Planning commission sends rezoning for 405 South Eighth Avenue to council after resident raises safety, snow-removal concerns

The Wausau Planning Commission voted Aug. 19 to forward a rezoning request for 405 South Eighth Avenue to the Common Council for its September meeting after a resident raised safety and notification concerns during a public hearing.

Staff said the Community Development Authority purchased the 0.65-acre parcel from Marathon County to develop affordable housing and that the authority has a deadline to complete the project by the end of next year. "The authority purchased that lot 405 South Eighth Avenue from Marathon County, at the end of last year with the designation that we need to provide affordable housing," said Tammy Stratts of the Community Development Department. "We have a deadline as of, I believe, the end of next year to have it completed."

The rezoning request would change the parcel from the institutional zoning district to the MRM 20 multifamily residential district. Carrie Edmondson, planning staff, said the change would allow a range of multifamily uses and that the parcel’s size limits the number of units. "The proposed zoning district change is to MRM 20…there wouldn't be that number of units permitted just because of the size of the parcel," Edmondson said. Staff and the Community Development Authority presented a conceptual plan for a six-unit rental complex — three one-bedroom units, two two-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit — but stressed that the rezoning vote was separate from final site or building approvals.

Resident Cheryl Zobel, who lives at 410 South Eighth Avenue and faces the lot, raised multiple concerns during public comment. She said notices posted at the site were hard to see and described traffic- and winter-related safety risks on the narrow street. "The no parking signs posted on the west side of the street are frequently ignored. Cars parked on both sides can limit passage of emergency vehicles," Zobel said. She also asked about plans for snow removal, where snow would be piled, stormwater retention and outdoor play space for children. Zobel noted that students from John Muir cross Eighth Avenue daily and said additional vehicle trips from an apartment development could increase risk.

Commissioners and staff discussed density and comparability to single-family subdivision under the adjacent SR7 district. Edmondson said the parcel could be subdivided into roughly six SR7 single-family lots of about 4,000 square feet each if developed under that zoning; the proposed multifamily plan would likely result in fewer residents per building because several units are one-bedroom. The commission was also told that multifamily requirements such as green space, parking and stormwater would be evaluated during later permitting and inspections.

With a motion by Commissioner Boardman and a second from Commissioner Brueggemann, the commission voted — by voice — to send the rezoning request to the Common Council for action at its September meeting. The vote was taken without recorded roll-call tallies in the meeting minutes.

The rezoning decision before the council will be limited to the zoning map amendment; the commission and staff emphasized that any specific building design, stormwater plan, parking layout or property management agreement would be reviewed separately through the city's permitting and inspection processes.

Clarifying details from the hearing include: the parcel size (0.65 acre); a staff-reported conceptual plan for six units (three one-bed, two two-bed, one three-bed) described as townhome- or rowhouse-style attached units; the parcel was purchased from Marathon County "at the end of last year" for an affordable housing purpose; and staff noted that a neighborhood meeting was held and that Alder Chad Henke encouraged a petition for a crossing sign near the site. The commission was told that proposed onsite parking would be required to meet MRM 20 standards and that snow removal and property management were expected to be handled by a nonprofit housing manager under development plans.

The Common Council is scheduled to consider the rezoning at its September meeting; the commission record on Aug. 19 will be part of the council packet.