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West Bend plan commission approves land‑use change and rezoning for Stratford Road duplex development; zoning passes 6‑1
Summary
The Plan Commission approved a comprehensive‑plan amendment and rezoned a parcel on Stratford Road from single‑family to two‑family residential to allow six duplexes (12 units). Neighbors raised parking and density concerns; commissioners approved the land‑use change by voice vote and the zoning change passed 6‑1 and will go to the Common Council for final approval.
The West Bend Plan Commission voted to advance a developer’s proposal to change the recommended land use and zoning for a parcel on Stratford Road, clearing the way for duplex (two‑family) housing and sending the rezoning to the Common Council for final action.
Staff introduced 2020 Comprehensive Plan Amendment No. 42, seeking to change the recommended land use from single‑family residential to two‑family residential for land described in the packet (staff described the northern half as roughly 0.69 acres located about 470 feet north of Highmount Road; the separate zoning description listed 0.84 acres and a location about 575 feet north — the discrepancy is noted and will be clarified in the Common Council filing). The linked zoning application (zoning amendment 25‑12) would rezone the property from RS‑4 (single family) to RD‑2 (two family).
Neighbors spoke at the combined public hearing. Linda Smeaton, who identified her address as 2116 Stratford Road and said she is the nearest neighbor to the north, questioned the change and the scale of the proposal. She told commissioners she was concerned about the number of households and the development’s effect on yards and trees: "I am going to be the neighbor closest to the development to the north there." Several speakers sought clarity about the total units and building configuration; staff and the developer’s representative said the current plan envisions six buildings (duplexes) for a total of 12 units on the site under the RD‑2 standard.
A representative of Parish Surveying & Engineering, identified as Evan, answered parking questions from neighbors and told the commission: "it is a desire that every single unit, all 12 units will have a 2 car garage and then 2 cars for parking behind there" so the developer intends to provide on‑site parking rather than rely on Stratford Street.
Staff also said the development is tied to a county Next Generation Housing program that imposes pricing/occupancy restrictions; as staff put it: "As part of the Next Gen Housing initiative, they have to be owner occupied." Commissioners discussed unit counts and noted that compared with the earlier single‑family layout the net increase in units for the entire project is small (staff described it as an increase of roughly two units compared with the prior plan for the northern half).
After public comment and staff clarification, the commission approved the comprehensive‑plan land‑use amendment by voice vote (staff corrected an initial roll‑call confusion and recorded no nay). The commission then considered the zoning map amendment to rezone the northern half to RD‑2. Several commissioners said it would be important to see the forthcoming plan unit development (PUD) and site layout to confirm building design, buffering and driveway locations. One commissioner explained his "no" vote citing aesthetic and lot‑size fit with immediate neighbors. The rezoning motion passed 6‑1 and was forwarded to the Common Council for final action.
What’s next: The developer is expected to return with a site plan and a planned unit development overlay that will show building footprints, driveways, landscaping and other design details; that PUD and site plan will be reviewed separately by the commission and city staff. The Common Council will act on the rezoning following the commission’s recommendation.
