Council approves conditional‑use permit for Mont Bijou cocktail lounge with conditions and one‑year review

The Oconomowoc Common Council on Feb. 18 approved a conditional‑use permit that allows Mont Bijou, a historic hotel at 351 East Lisbon Road, to operate a public cocktail lounge (tavern/lounge) subject to conditions intended to limit impacts on the surrounding residential area.

Council vote and motion The permit passed on a 6–2 roll call: Aldermen Spiegelberg, Shellpepper, Maroney, Douglas, Rosick and Altman Cloth voted aye; Aldermen Ellis and Mulder voted nay. The plan commission had recommended approval and added operating hours to the draft conditions.

What the permit allows and limits - Uses and occupancy: The approved conditional‑use permit allows public tavern/lounge service on the first floor of Mont Bijou; occupancy for the lounge and first floor is limited to 49 people. The second and third floors remain hotel guest rooms and are not open to the public. City staff noted the building is currently documented as having 12 guest rooms and that interior reconfiguration could potentially increase that number; however, room counts are generally limited to the existing legal nonconforming status unless the council approves otherwise.

- Hours: The owners offered hours to reduce…