Plan commission approves three multifamily site plans, garage addition and consent items; grants parking flexibility on Oakwood Flats

At its meeting, the Eau Claire City Plan Commission approved several development items and a garage addition, and adopted the consent agenda, while also setting conditions and follow-ups staff must receive before permits are issued.

Consent agenda The commission approved the consent agenda, which included the June 2, 2025 plan commission minutes and a permanent easement for Loews Creek with Eau Claire County. Commissioner Brett Brewster moved approval and Commissioner Reid seconded; the roll call recorded seven affirmative votes and no negatives. Staff answered a public-question during the consent discussion about borings for the Loews Creek project, noting drilling rigs are relatively small in footprint and borings typically take only a couple hours to complete.

3445 Star Avenue — garage addition (conditional use permit) The commission recommended approval for a conditional-use permit to add to a detached garage at 3445 Star Avenue. Planner Noel explained the addition exceeds the accessory-use square-footage limits but meets height rules. Applicant David Balow said the addition will be used for storage and to park vehicles for his handyman business and described approximately half the addition as enclosed and half as open-covered porch. Commissioner Ned Erickson moved to recommend approval, Commissioner Brewster seconded, and the motion passed on a 7–0 roll call.

Oakwood Flats Apartments — site plan, 4908 Bullis Farm Road The commission approved the site plan for a three-story, 41-unit Oakwood Flats apartment building on a 2.3-acre site south of the mall, with conditions. Planner Ed Baumgartner said the proposal includes 41 required stalls and the applicant is proposing 56 — more than the 25% administrative allowance — so the commission needed to approve the additional parking. The applicant, Sean Bohan, said some parking will serve overflow from an adjacent building and act as visitor spaces; he also noted a bioretention stormwater area and an eventual connection to a regional facility.

Commission discussion focused on parking totals, bicycle parking (one rack per unit required), lighting plans and trash handling; the applicant said interior wall-mounted bike racks will provide part of the required bicycle parking and that final details will be shown on the final site plan. Commissioner Brett Brewster said he supports the project type (one-bed/efficiency units) and the motion carried on a roll call with all commissioners voting aye (7–0). Staff listed multiple conditions, including final engineering approval for drainage, a full lighting plan, trash-screening details if a dumpster is used, and confirmation of bicycle parking locations.

1917 Black Avenue — condominium site plan Commissioners approved a condominium-style multifamily site plan at 1917 Black Avenue, a 36-unit (3 x 12-unit building concept) development with a mix of two-bedroom units and 1-bedroom buildings. Baumgartner noted the applicant proposes 60 parking stalls where 40 are required; the overage is driven largely by driveway segments that were included in the count and a set of visitor stalls. Applicant Sean Bohan said the west driveway will be 24 feet and the team will provide turning-movement exhibits and widen the apron at the right-of-way to accommodate trucks and safe turning movements.

Conditions include submittal of a lighting plan, trash handling details (individual cans vs. dumpster and screening), and a condo plat/declaration to be submitted as part of final approvals. The commission approved the site plan by unanimous roll call vote (7–0).

Prairie West Apartments — site plan (Prairie Lane) The commission approved the Prairie West Apartments final implementation plan, a 96-unit multifamily phase within a larger planned-unit development. Planner Noel said the site meets the general development plan’s density range but the location of the common recreational area and dog park (shown in the southern portion of the parcel) merited discussion because the GDP text described recreational space generally serving the whole development, and the commission asked staff and the applicant to ensure the play area is accessible and visible (staff asked for a flattened berm so the space is not bunkered in).

The applicant (Sean Bohan) said the development would include sidewalks, internal pedestrian connections and that stormwater facilities would be bioretention features connecting to regional facilities. The commission approved the site plan with conditions addressing screening next to an adjacent manufacturing use, sidewalk and SIA/subdivision requirements, bike racks and trash enclosures; the final vote was unanimous (7–0).

Next steps and staff conditions For the larger site plans, staff required final engineering (drainage and stormwater), lighting plans showing downcast/shielded fixtures, confirmed bike rack counts and locations, trash handling details and screening for dumpsters (if used), and final site-plan/subdivision/condo plat documents as applicable. Several approvals included explicit conditions that these items be submitted and approved by staff before construction permits are issued.

No public commenters spoke on the 3445 Star Avenue garage item; Oakwood Flats, Black Avenue and Prairie West were heard as public-discussion items with applicants present to answer commissioner questions.

Commissioners also discussed process improvements for the city’s land-development submittal checklist to reduce instances where routine items (lighting plans, trash, drainage) are missing from initial packets.