Kenosha plan commission approves rezoning of city-owned parcels for Home Kenosha housing program

The Kenosha City Plan Commission voted Thursday to rezone two city-owned parcels at 182250 Third Street and 171050 Third Street from Institutional Park (IP) to RG-2 Residential, a move staff said will allow the parcels to be used for single-family houses under the Home Kenosha program.

City planning staff told the commission the rezoning was initiated by the commission at a prior meeting and recommended approval under the zoning ordinance. Staff said the parcels are city-owned and that the rezoning is intended to allow the city to combine the properties with an adjacent residential parcel and later record a certified survey map (CSM) to formalize the lots and allow homebuilders to develop the site.

The public hearing produced no speakers. Juan Gomez, who identified himself as the property owner next to Norma's Park, asked whether the planned homes would be single-family or duplexes; staff answered they will be single-family and that a number of homes will be built across the general area, though an exact count was not specified. Gomez provided his address for the record.

Commissioners and other attendees praised the proposed project design during discussion and confirmed that the rezoning is limited to changing the zoning classification; the existing adjacent parcel already carries a residential zoning designation and will be combined with the rezoned city parcels before a CSM is recorded. Staff said the city will return with a CSM and that the combined parcels would be reconfigured at that time.

Following the discussion, a motion to approve the rezoning was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. No opposed votes were recorded on the record.

The rezoning is intended to place the parcels into the city—s development pipeline for the Home Kenosha program so private builders can construct single-family homes on the combined lots. Staff said further administrative steps, including the CSM and any related subdivision paperwork, will follow the rezoning approval.

Clarifying details from the meeting: staff indicated the parcels are city-owned; an adjacent parcel already zoned residential will be combined with the two rezoned parcels; exact number of homes to be built was not specified; a future certified survey map will formalize the parcels for development.

The commission—s approval allows staff and the city to proceed with the lot combination and subsequent steps to enable home construction under the Home Kenosha program.