Council approves land-use and rezoning changes for proposed West Bend fire station at 2151 W. Washington

The West Bend Common Council on Monday approved two separate actions clearing the way for a proposed new fire station at 2151 West Washington.

The council first approved Ordinance No. 8 amending the 2020 comprehensive plan to change the recommended land use from commercial, multifamily and wetland to institutional/public service for approximately 12.9 acres. Council members then approved a rezoning ordinance to change about 21.15 acres from B-4 General Business, RM-3 Multifamily Residential and nonshoreland wetland district to I-1 Institutional and Public Service and nonshoreland wetland district.

Planner Jim (department title not specified in the transcript) told the council the changes align zoning and future land use with the fire department’s intended uses, including training and equipment storage. The council took the two votes separately, each by voice vote; both motions carried.

Why this matters

The land-use and zoning changes are required before the city can issue permits and proceed with site plan approvals for construction of a fire station and related improvements on the site. Council members said aligning the property’s zoning with the intended institutional use will streamline future approvals for the municipal project.

What was approved

• Ordinance No. 8 — amendment to the 2020 comprehensive plan: change recommended land use for 2151 West Washington (approx. 12.9 acres) from commercial/multifamily/wetland to institutional/public service; motion approved by voice vote.

• Rezoning ordinance — rezone approximately 21.15 acres (includes right-of-way) from B-4, RM-3 and nonshoreland wetland to I-1 Institutional and Public Service and nonshoreland wetland; motion approved by voice vote.

Speakers and process

Planner Jim explained the difference in acreage between the land-use change and rezoning (zoning extends to centerline of right-of-way). Aldermen Sternig, Sizer, Butchlich and others moved and seconded the motions during the meeting; each motion was carried without recorded roll-call tallies.

Provenance

topicintro: Planner Jim’s presentation on August 5 plan commission public hearing and the council’s consideration of Ordinance No. 8 and the rezoning for 2151 West Washington.

topfinish: Council voice votes approving both the comprehensive-plan amendment and the rezoning.

Speakers

• Jim — Planning staff (presented land-use and rezoning items) • Alderman Sternig — council member (moved first motion) • Alderman Sizer — council member (seconded motions and participated in votes)

Authorities

• type: ordinance; name/description: "Ordinance No. 8 — 2020 comprehensive plan amendment (2151 West Washington)", referenced_by:["fire-station-plan-and-rezoning"]

Actions

• kind: ordinance_adoption; identifiers:{"ordinance_number":"8","agenda_item_id":"council-2025-08-18-ord8"}, motion:"Approve amendment to 2020 comprehensive plan to change recommended land use at 2151 West Washington to institutional/public service (approx. 12.9 acres).", mover:"Alderman Sternig", second:"Alderman Sizer", vote_record:[], tally:{}, outcome:"approved", notes:"Voice vote; acreage difference explained as zoning extending to right-of-way centerline."

• kind: ordinance_adoption; identifiers:{"ordinance_number":"rezoning-2151-W-Wash","agenda_item_id":"council-2025-08-18-rezone"}, motion:"Rezone approx. 21.15 acres at 2151 West Washington from B-4/RM-3/nonshoreland wetland to I-1 institutional and public service and nonshoreland wetland.", mover:"Alderman Butchlich","second":"Alderman Sternig", vote_record:[], tally:{}, outcome:"approved", notes:"Voice vote. Motion carries."

Discussion_decision

Discussion points: purpose of zoning/land-use change is to facilitate construction of a fire station and related training/storage uses; explanation why two acreage figures differ. Directions: Staff to proceed with site-plan and permit reviews consistent with approved land-use and zoning changes. Decisions: Council approved both comprehensive-plan amendment and rezoning.

Clarifying_details

[{"category":"parcel","detail":"Comprehensive-plan amendment area","value":12.9,"units":"acres","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Jim"},{"category":"parcel","detail":"Rezoning area (includes right-of-way)","value":21.15,"units":"acres","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Jim"}]

Proper_names

[{"name":"2151 West Washington","type":"location"},{"name":"West Bend Fire Department","type":"agency?"}]

Community_relevance

geographies:["West Bend City"], funding_sources:[], impact_groups:["residents near 2151 West Washington","city emergency services"]

meeting_context

engagement_level:{"speakers_count":6,"duration_minutes":20,"items_count":2}, implementation_risk:"low", history:[{"date":"2025-08-05","note":"Plan commission public hearing and recommendation"}]

searchable_tags:["fire-station","rezoning","comprehensive-plan"]

salience:{"overall":0.62,"overall_justification":"Enables municipal infrastructure project with local impact; procedural but necessary for construction.","impact_scope":"local","impact_scope_justification":"Directly affects land use and emergency services in West Bend.","attention_level":"medium","attention_level_justification":"Important to nearby residents and city operations but limited broader impact."}

provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"1674.9","local_start":0,"local_end":205,"evidence_excerpt":"On, August 5, the plan commission held a public hearing for both items. The first 1 is for the actual land use change going from commercial, to institutional.","tc_start":"00:27:54","tc_end":"00:28:40","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"1821.375","local_start":0,"local_end":64,"evidence_excerpt":"Any opposed? That motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. We'll move on to our reports tonight.","tc_start":"00:30:21","tc_end":"00:30:45","reason_code":"topicfinish"}] },