Plan commission postpones vote on Madison Street commercial site amid traffic and design concerns

The City of Eau Claire Plan Commission on Nov. 3 postponed a decision on a rezoning and site‑plan amendment for a commercial building at 10 West Madison St., including a proposed drive‑through tenant, citing unresolved traffic safety concerns and pending technical reports.

Planner Noel presented the application as a rezoning and general development plan amendment to a planned unit development approved in 1997 for a site along West Madison near the Chippewa River and Oxford Avenue. Noel said the landowner seeks to split the lot, retain ownership of a smaller parcel and use a ground lease for the new building. The site is not in the 100‑year flood plain, but staff noted steep slope conditions on adjacent city property, screening and dumpster enclosure deficiencies, and a submitted stormwater plan that requires revision. Parks and Waterways reviewed the project and “recommended denial,” Noel said, urging that no new outfalls be placed to the river; staff asked that runoff be retained on site or conveyed to Madison Street catch basins.

City engineer Al Rinca told commissioners the most significant unresolved issue is traffic. Rinca…