Waupaca council approves a suite of zoning, parks and property measures in second readings

Waupaca Common Council on Oct. 7 approved a package of ordinances and property actions that included amendments to park alcohol rules, several rezoning ordinances tied to the city’s 2030 comprehensive plan, a certified survey map for a new subdivision parcel, and two hangar transactions at the municipal airport.

The items were taken chiefly on second reading and passed by roll call votes. Council President and the clerk called the roll for each ordinance; all measures listed below passed with nine affirmative votes unless noted.

Council approved Ordinance 13-2025, removing a local $10 beer permit previously administered by Parks & Recreation. Juliana Stos, community and economic development director, told the council staff had found no state requirement for that permit and that Parks & Recreation had approved removing the fee on Nov. 7, 2024. Motion: Olson; Second: Martin. Vote: 9 ayes.

Closely related, Ordinance 14-2025 revised the city code on consumption of alcohol in parks, aligning local language with state code and adjusting shelter rental fees to offset lost permit revenue. Motion: Martin; Second: Nagel. Vote: 9 ayes.

Council approved comprehensive-plan amendment Ordinance 05-2025, changing the future land use for six parcels (including 660 Hillcrest Drive) to enable an AutoZone retail store and other parcel merges; Stos said the amendment affects the rec center parcels and three parcels south of US Highway 10 east of County Road A to an industrial designation consistent with a staff feasibility assessment. Motion: Olsen; Second: Hagen. Vote: 9 ayes.

A series of rezones tied to the comprehensive-plan amendments also passed on second reading: Ordinance 06-2025 (rezoning 407 and 415 School Street to PUL, to reflect civic use and a rec center addition); Ordinance 07-2025 (unifying zoning at 811 Harding Street, the county courthouse, to PUL); Ordinance 09-2025 (rezoning 702 West Fulton Street from B-4 Strip Commercial to B-3 General Commercial to accommodate an AutoZone development); and Ordinance 10-2025 (rezoning River North Subdivision parcels from R-3 to R-1 to match the subdivision plat). Motions and seconds were recorded for each; each passed by roll call, 9 ayes.

On a staff land-use item, the council approved a certified survey map for the Russ Young property at the corner of Duck Lake Drive and Charles Wright Drive, which splits a small trapezoid parcel to enable a single-family home and a duplex on Charles Wright Drive; the parcel will connect to municipal utilities in the new development phases. Motion: Velacher; Second: Elverson. Vote: 9 ayes.

Airport property actions passed as well. The council approved the sale/transfer of Hangar No. 7 to Daniel Hayes; the packet lacked an explicit lease term but staff clarified the hangar lease term is 30 years and will be filled in before final documents are executed. Motion: Hagen; Second: Velacher. Vote: 9 ayes.

Council also approved a new hangar lot lease, Lot No. 23, to Michael Bohm for 30 years. Motion: Higgins; Second: Martin. Vote: 9 ayes.

All items listed above were adopted with no recorded opposing votes during roll call. The clerk certified nine present at roll calls and declared motion carried on each vote.

Ending: Many of the land-use items were second readings with staff and the planning commission previously reviewing and recommending the changes; the council recorded final roll-call approval on Oct. 7 and the ordinances will be incorporated into the municipal code per standard practice.