New Richmond council approves school expansion permits, rezones and $1.9M street/utility bid; sets alley assessments

The New Richmond City Council on Tuesday approved conditional use permits allowing expansions at Star Elementary, New Richmond Middle School and Paperjack Elementary, cleared multiple rezoning requests and awarded a $1,898,872 contract for the 2025 street and utility package.

City planner Amber Tautier outlined the three school proposals, saying Star Elementary would add three building additions, reconfigure pick-up and drop-off lanes and expand parking from 88 to 147 stalls. "The school currently has 88 stalls, and they're proposing a 147 stalls," Tautier said, and staff and the planning commission recommended approval of the Star conditional use permit with 26 conditions.

Tautier described the middle school plan as four additions, a reconstructed northern parking lot and a proposed impervious surface of 40.8 percent; she said that, when combined with the adjacent Paperjack parcel, the overall impervious percentage for the combined acreage is just under 26 percent. The council approved the middle-school conditional use permit with 23 conditions after brief discussion about the loss of 63 parking stalls tied to a new gym addition.

Paperjack Elementary's proposal includes four additions, a second entrance and reconfigured drop-off lanes; parking would increase from 105 to 128 stalls. Staff recommended approval with 27 conditions, which the council approved after asking staff to confirm grading, erosion control and stormwater revisions noted in the packet.

Council also approved two rezoning requests. Adam Nerby's application to rezone a 10-acre parcel at 1690 County Road K from Z1 (agriculture preservation) to Z2 (suburban), which staff said is consistent with the comprehensive plan, was approved with no conditions. Twin Cities Land Development, representing Creative Home Construction Investments, received council approval to rezone three remaining parcels of the 200-acre Gloverdale property from Z1 to Z3 (multi-use corridor), again with staff finding the change consistent with future land-use guidance.

On infrastructure, staff reported four bids for the 2025 street-and-utility package, driven primarily by the Biltmore Avenue reconstruction and including the Oak Trail, alley reconstruction and some lead service line replacements. The low bid of $1,898,872 from Total Excavating was recommended by the Utility Commission and Public Works Committee and accepted by the council. City staff said the contract award will be followed by a preconstruction meeting with the contractor and neighborhood residents to review timelines, traffic impacts and coordination (for example, driveway work and temporary water shutoffs).

Council approved a final-resolution action (Resolution 042501) to levy special assessments for the alley reconstruction; staff said assessments, based on linear frontage, will range roughly from $600 to $1,500 and property owners may pay up front or spread payments over five years on their property tax bill.

Other business approved by the council included: awarding a low bid for miscellaneous concrete work (sidewalks, curb and gutter, park work) to Concrete Flooring for $35,006.33; purchasing wood poles for the electric department from Bell Pole for $31,609; and approving a $8,106.60 proposal from SEH to perform pre-demolition asbestos and regulated-materials sampling and reporting ahead of a planned controlled burn used for fire-department training. Staff warned that actual abatement costs will depend on survey findings.

Council also approved event permits for Fundfest and related parade and amplification uses, with staff conditions to protect emergency access, maintain handicap parking and require insurance and temporary-liquor licensing and server certifications. Staff told the council that moving forward applications must be submitted by mid-December or six months before events to allow adequate review.

In communications, the police department highlighted community events and the clerk reported a 51 percent turnout in the recent spring election, a notable increase from recent comparable elections. The meeting concluded when the council voted to go into closed session under Wisconsin statute 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchase of public property or other specified public business requiring competitive bargaining; recording stopped after the motion carried.

Next steps: staff will finalize contractor preconstruction scheduling, notify property owners of final assessment amounts and follow the conditions attached to each approved conditional use permit and event permit.