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Planning commission OKs conditional-use amendment for 61-unit building, approves temporary parking agreement with developer
Summary
The Kenosha Planning Commission approved a conditional-use amendment for a 61-unit multifamily building at 5945 Sixth Avenue and authorized a parking-lot agreement allowing temporary use of a private parking area while the developer pursues final occupancy and future construction plans.
The Kenosha City Planning Commission voted Thursday to approve a conditional-use permit amendment for a 61-unit multifamily building at 5945 Sixth Avenue and to authorize a related parking-lot restoration agreement between the city and the developer, Theater Terrace QOZB LLC.
The action allows the developer to maintain an existing parking area while pursuing final occupancy for the building, subject to conditions in the permit and the terms of the restoration agreement. Planning staff recommended approval of both the conditional-use amendment and the performance agreement.
Why it matters: The agreement provides short-term parking that residents and nearby businesses are using now while setting a pathway for compliance with the city—s ordinances and for eventual removal or upgrade of that parking if the developer proceeds with additional construction. The arrangement includes an escrow or cash bond to ensure removal if the developer does not complete the longer-term work.
Alder Bill Seal, alderperson for District 2, told the commission he has lived within a block of the site for four decades and said the sector "has never looked better," thanking staff and the developer for reaching an agreement. Planning staff explained the temporary parking ties to an erosion-control permit and to the building—s final occupancy. Under city rules the lot ultimately must meet current parking-lot standards (lighting, landscaping and construction) unless the developer removes it. Staff said the commission was giving the developer a two-year window to stabilize financing and complete the next-phase construction; the city holds escrow to fund removal if needed.
Commissioners also approved a technical correction to the developer—s agreement to fix a misspelling of the project name (one instance of "Theater Terrence" was corrected to "Theater Terrace"). The commission—s recommendation advances both the conditional-use amendment and the performance agreement to whatever follow-up approvals the ordinance requires.
Commissioners who recorded aye votes during the roll call included Ward, Commissioner Foster, Commissioner Ruffalo, Commissioner Spotswood, Commissioner Wallace and the mayor. The motion to approve (including the typo correction) passed on the floor; the mover and seconder were not recorded on the public transcript.
What remains: The developer can either remove the temporary parking, or build the parking up to city standards if it remains. Staff said that if the developer requests more time near the end of the two-year period, policy makers at that future meeting could consider an extension.
An archival note: the commission tied the parking agreement and the conditional-use amendment because the parking arrangement is directly tied to occupancy and future development of the site.
