Oconomowoc council hears concerns over proposed Village Green bathrooms, private partnership and sight-line impacts

City of Oconomowoc staff presented updated designs for the Village Green on Oct. 7 and heard more than a dozen public comments pressing for clearer visuals and limits on private use of public space. The plan shared with the committee shows two restroom structures, seating and reconfigured sidewalks; the owners of an adjacent commercial building have proposed enclosing rooftop stairs and adding restrooms that would face the park.

Why it matters: Village Green is a heavily used downtown event space (German Christmas Market, beer gardens and other festivals). Residents and council members said they support year‑round public restrooms but want assurances the design will not reduce public access, block lake views, or create de facto private terraces on city land.

City staff presented renderings and said the team is continuing design work. “This is the park engineering that I’m working with,” said Kevin Herzog, a city staff member, as he walked through overlay images showing a roughly 16‑foot restroom built against the adjacent building that…