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Committee advances sale of 208–214 Wyatt St. to local buyer with environmental and design contingencies
Summary
The Economic Development Committee voted 3–2 to forward a sale of 208–214 Wyatt Street to Troy Engman to the full council, contingent on DNR/environmental steps, building advisory board approval and submission of architectural renderings; some alder members urged a higher purchase price and a DNR liability release for the city.
The Wausau Economic Development Committee on Sept. 2 voted 3–2 to forward to the full Common Council a proposed sale of 208–214 Wyatt Street to local resident and buyer Troy Engman, with contingencies requiring environmental confirmation, building-advisory-board approval and architectural renderings before closing.
Tammy Straatz, staff lead on the property, said Engman submitted a qualification and offered $3,500 to purchase the parcel. Straatz said the lot is in a flood plain, subject to Brownfield closure conditions, and that Engman had not asked the city for financial assistance but acknowledged remediation and building constraints.
Alder Killian said the city previously paid $19,000 for one nearby lot and that unimproved and improved values for the Wyatt Street parcel suggested a higher sale price. Killian asked staff to obtain a written response from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that the city’s liability would be resolved if a private buyer assumes remediation obligations; she said she could not support the sale at $3,500 without confirmation the city's liability would be eliminated and without a higher purchase price. Killian also asked what would be stored in the large garage shown on the applicant’s sketch.
Buyer Troy Engman, who gave his address as 1510 Lakeview Avenue, said the large garage shown on his concept would store personal vehicles and equipment: "I have a boat and I'm just looking to store some things in it, my truck and possibly lawnmowers." He said he planned to work with a local contractor and that exterior materials would be consistent with the neighborhood.
Staff and zoning staff said the buyer would need to appear before the Building Advisory Board for approval of the proposed garage and that the sale should be contingent on that approval. Staff also noted there are steps to transfer Brownfield closure obligations and that the DNR process needs to be followed for the buyer to assume ongoing obligations.
Alder Neal moved to approve forwarding the sale to council subject to contingencies; Alder Henke seconded. The committee voted 3–2 in favor and will send the proposed sale to the full council for consideration. Committee members said final closing would not occur until the contingencies were satisfied.
The committee did not set a final purchase price adjustment on the record; several alder members asked staff to continue negotiations on price while the contingencies are addressed.
