The Waupaca City Planning Commission on Nov. 5 voted to recommend that the City Council approve a conditional use permit for property at 290 Industrial Drive to allow a freight terminal and expanded truck parking.

Juliana Stosz, community and economic development director, told the commission the site is zoned I-2 Heavy Industrial and the proposed trucking terminal "aligns with the zoning and the future land use." She said a site plan for parking expansion has been approved contingent on council approval of the conditional use permit and that building permits are expected to follow for interior winter storage modifications.

Reed Blake, the applicant, described the operation to commissioners: "Primarily, live bottom belt trailers. The product would never leave the trailer. We do have tankers as well for hot asphalt oil. We would potentially be looking to add some of that in in the future." He said the facility would provide heated winter parking so drivers can better serve existing customers and hire locally.

No members of the public testified for or against the permit during the hearing, and the commission closed the public hearing before taking its recommendation vote. A motion to recommend the conditional use permit to the council carried by voice vote.

The commission's recommendation does not itself authorize construction or change of use; council approval and any required building permits must be obtained before work begins. The staff report in the meeting packet notes the site plan approval is contingent on council action and described required zoning conformity for the proposed trucking operations.

Next steps: the recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final action and for any building-permit review required to modify the north side of the building for winter truck storage.