Oconomowoc council creates Urban Park zoning, rezones Village Green and backs parcel consolidation; public input set on park plans

The Oconomowoc Common Council on Sept. 16 approved a new Urban Park zoning district and rezoned five parcels at the Village Green to that district, actions intended to preserve the site for public uses and reduce building setbacks.

City staff presented the zoning ordinance amendment as a new district called UP that would allow public uses such as parks, open space, trailheads, community gatherings and government/civic buildings but would not allow commercial or residential uses. "We're creating a new zoning district," said Mister Gallo during the public hearing portion of the meeting.

The council voted to adopt Ordinance 25-01107 (first reading, with the second reading waived) to add the Urban Park rules to the city code and to change draft language requested by the Plan Commission from "intended for publicly owned lands" to "reserved exclusively for publicly owned lands." The council then approved Ordinance 25-01103 to rezone about 1.45 acres…