Commission finds Valley View Apartments in conformance and forwards 50-unit income-based building to council

The River Falls Planning Commission voted on Dec. 2 to forward to city council the specific implementation plan for Valley View Apartments, a 50-unit income-based apartment building in the Mann Valley Corporate Park, after finding it in substantial conformance with the previously approved general development plan.

Emily Shively, assistant director of community development, told commissioners the Mann Valley residential site is part of a larger, approved general development plan (GDP) for a 255-unit multifamily project across four lots. The specific implementation plan before the commission covers Lot 4 and shows the 50-unit building’s site layout, main access from Discovery Drive, an emergency-vehicle secondary access to the sanitary sewer lift station, 85 surface parking spaces, sidewalks connecting the site to existing trails, residential patios, landscaping, and two stormwater-treatment areas that engineering staff will review for compliance with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and city stormwater requirements. Staff concluded the SIP is in substantial conformance with the GDP and consistent with development standards.

A Senair/Senaire representative, Nicole Solheim, said the team anticipates starting construction in May 2026 with about a one-year construction period and leasing beginning in 2027. Commissioners asked whether the income-based building’s exterior would be materially different from market-rate buildings; staff and the developer indicated higher-quality exterior materials and design features such as balconies will be used and that the building is intended to fit within the overall development’s character.

A motion to forward the resolution recommending council approval passed by voice vote. Next steps include placement of the resolution on the city council agenda and continued engineering review of stormwater specifications and final site details.