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 neighborhood impacts. Under the permit, hotel exterior doors would be locked 10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday–Saturday (guests may enter with a code after lock). The draft conditions specify that bar service would end by midnight and that any outdoor bar service or special‑event outdoor activities must end by 11 p.m.

- Parking and site work: The site contains 18 on‑site parking stalls. The owners committed to avoid on‑street parking on Lisbon Road and proposed pervious paving should additional stalls be needed; the permit requires screening of trash and prohibits outdoor storage.

- Safety, signage and revocation: The permit requires a Knox box for fire department access, downward‑tilted lighting to avoid spill onto neighboring properties, one externally lit identification sign (no internally illuminated sign) along Lisbon Road, and compliance with all federal/state/local regulations on liquor sales and licensing. The permit includes standard revocation language: if operations cause a nuisance or pose a risk to public health and safety, the city can initiate revocation procedures.

- Review and follow up: The plan commission and common council reserve the right to review and amend the conditional‑use permit. As added during council discussion, the applicants agreed to return in one year for a status update.

Why the permit drew strong comment Public comment was closely divided. Supporters said Mont Bijou is a historic, high‑end lodging that would offer a small, walkable lounge option for residents and that the owners have invested in the property and its maintenance. Opponents — including many residents of the adjacent Pine Terrace condominiums — expressed concerns about parking scarcity on Lisbon Road, noise and doors slamming when patrons exit late, trespassing at a nearby private lake and park, stormwater/runoff if parking is expanded, and potential effects on property values.

Legal and private‑restrictive issues Attorneys representing neighbors pointed to a private deed restriction (recorded in 1999) that plaintiff counsel said limits the property’s lawful uses to bed‑and‑breakfast, single‑family residence or office, and therefore does not permit a tavern. The Brisks’ counsel and the owners said the property has operated historically as a hotel for more than 100 years and that they are prepared to challenge enforcement of the private restriction if necessary. City staff and the city attorney noted private deed restrictions do not prevent the council from issuing zoning or conditional‑use approvals, though private restrictions may give rise to separate civil disputes between private parties.

Key direct statements from the hearing - Joe Brisk (co‑owner): “Mont Bijou is a high end luxury hotel. It’s never been a bed and breakfast. It’s not an Airbnb. It’s a hotel and a cocktail lounge is a permitted use, of a hotel if we are deemed a hotel.” - Catherine Brisk (co‑owner): “We’ve now been in business for a year … we have not had 1 complaint after being in business for 1 year.” - Michael Ostranga (Pine Terrace resident, petition organizer): “We have 76 residents in Pine Terrace. We have 67 signatures on our petition in opposition to this permit.”

What happens now The permit contains 19 draft conditions (as presented to council) and the council’s approval makes the lounge a permitted, conditional accessory use of the historic hotel subject to those conditions and to monitoring. If neighbors report violations, staff and the plan commission have authority to review operations and, if problems warrant, start revocation procedures.