Plan commission postpones conditional-use request for apartments at Delavan Inn

The Delavan Plan Commission voted to postpone indefinitely consideration of a conditional-use permit for 518 Borg Road, a proposal from Delavan Inn and Suites to convert second-floor hotel space to commercial apartment use.

The matter drew brief public comment and questions about how similar conversions would be treated citywide. Jag Napatow, who identified himself as assisting his cousin the applicant, said, “We're just asking for the city to have an apartment in a hotel on the 2nd Floor that they suggested us, And, we're just, waiting for you, the city, to approve it.” Dave Siqueiros, CEO of Lake Lawn Resort, asked the commission to consider consistent treatment if other hotels or condo-hotel owners later sought similar conversions.

Staff told commissioners that apartment use has not been permitted in lodging facilities and that a 180-day limit on lodging stays is on the books. The commission and the common council previously opposed an ordinance amendment to allow commercial apartments in lodging facilities; staff said the council and the General Operations Committee (GOC) were scheduled to consider related legislative work imminently. Given that concurrent process, the chair presented two options — deny the application on the packet's basis or postpone until the council finishes its work. Commissioner S4 moved to postpone indefinitely and the motion carried.

The postponement means the applicant's request will await final action by the common council and any ordinance changes from the GOC. The commission did not take a final vote on the conditional-use merits or conditions at the meeting.