The City of Oshkosh Plan Commission on May 20 approved a general development plan (GDP) amendment and specific implementation plan (SIP) to add four duplex buildings to the rear of an existing eight-unit apartment at 129 West 17th Avenue. The property owner and applicant is General Contacting Service LLC. The commission approved the staff recommendation by a 7-0 roll call vote.

Staff said the proposed duplexes are consistent with a GDP approved in 2018 and that a neighborhood meeting held in April drew generally favorable responses from nearby residents. The proposal would use an existing driveway from West 17th Avenue and provide two-car attached garages for each unit plus six surface parking stalls. Staff said the project includes a required outdoor recreation area in the southwest corner of the site; final landscaping and fencing will be verified during site-plan review.

Staff noted one site-specific landscape deviation request: a landscape island along the northeast building would be narrower than the standard seven-foot width and would not include the required deciduous tree because of proximity to an existing stormwater pond. Staff said the applicant is requesting a BSM to allow the reduced-width island without the tree; staff supported the request because the project exceeds the overall landscape point requirements and proposes replacement trees elsewhere on the site.

During public comment, Sue Volgren (who identified herself as the parent of a nearby resident) asked what would be provided in the outdoor recreation area and whether the rear yard depths would be sufficient for neighboring properties. Staff replied that the recreation area is shown as open space to meet multifamily site requirements and that the rear yards slightly exceed the code minimum (staff said the minimum is 25 feet). Staff also said buffer yards would be required along property lines and that the developer proposes landscaping (Arborvitae) and a 6-foot solid fence on portions of the northeast buffer; the final configuration will be set during site-plan review.

Staff recommended approval of the GDP amendment and SIP with findings and conditions in the staff report, and the commission adopted the recommendation, 7-0.

Clarifying details recorded by staff included: the property zoning (Neighborhood Mixed Use with a planned development overlay), the presence of an existing eight-unit building and garage, the proposed four duplexes to the rear, required buffer yards and fencing, and that final site landscaping and any minor encroachments (for example, a driveway bump-out) will be addressed during site-plan review.

Speakers at the item included planning staff, members of the Plan Commission, and a public commenter, Sue Volgren.