Plan Commission reviews concept PUD to expand Premier Bank parking downtown
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Summary
The Fort Atkinson Plan Commission reviewed a concept planned unit development from Premier Bank to combine downtown lots, remove a dilapidated building and add about 15 parking spaces; no formal action was taken. Staff said the project could allow a needed sanitary sewer replacement and stormwater improvements if easements are secured.
The Fort Atkinson Plan Commission on Sept. 9 reviewed a concept planned unit development from Premier Bank to combine two downtown parcels, demolish a dilapidated building and create roughly 15 parking spaces; commission members did not vote on the proposal.
City staff described the presentation as a concept review that "does not require action this evening," and said the PUD route was requested because off-site parking is generally not permitted in the downtown historic mixed-use area but the PUD process can allow flexibility when city objectives are served. Jed Dreger, city staff, said the project could create cross-access easements, improve stormwater infrastructure and provide an opportunity to replace an aging 8-inch sanitary sewer line running under buildings on the west side of North Main.
The applicant, Russ Turk of Premier Bank, told commissioners there currently is no easement across the gravel lot the bank owns and that the bank has discussed the matter with adjacent landowners. City staff said Premier has expressed willingness to work with adjacent property owners on stormwater and access issues.
Commissioners and members of the public pressed the applicant on how the proposal would affect two parking spaces currently signed for a nearby apartment and on the number and location of curb cuts. Several commissioners suggested consolidating or better defining driveway openings to improve urban form and reduce a wide, undefined access area at the west edge of the proposed lot. Dreger and the applicant said property ownership boundaries and the absence of an existing easement limit what Premier can commit at this concept stage.
A parking study submitted with the application examined whether reconfiguring North Water Street to one-way traffic with angled parking would produce additional spaces. The study concluded street changes would not materially increase parking — "maybe one or two spaces," Dreger said — and thus would not eliminate the need for a new off-site parking area if the applicant proceeds.
Because this was only a concept plan review, the Plan Commission offered feedback but took no formal action. Dreger told the commission that the PUD process would next move to a general development plan and later to site-level review, where pedestrian access, crosswalks, final curb cuts and stormwater details will be analyzed in greater detail.
