Council approves annexation of six parcels totaling about 99.4 acres at Highway 65 and 157th Avenue

The New Richmond City Council voted to annex six parcels totaling approximately 99.4 acres at the northeast corner of Highway 65 and 157th Avenue from the Town of Richmond into the city. Staff said the Wisconsin Department of Administration found the annexation to be in the public interest on Dec. 30, 2025, and the town did not file objections.

Under the annexation process staff outlined, the city assigns zoning to annexed parcels; staff recommended that the three eastern parcels be placed in a Z4 designation (medium-high density residential) and the three western parcels in a Z3 multiuse corridor, consistent with the city's future land-use map. Council members asked about tax sharing and tax-revenue timing; staff explained that annexed property tax distributions are handled by statute and can be paid over a five-year period or in a lump sum, depending on evaluation and municipal choice.

Council approved the ordinance. After the vote a council member asked whether the staff/plan commission recommendation to waive the city annexation fee (with the applicant paying state fees) had been included in the motion; council confirmed that the fee waiver recommendation was intended to be part of the approved action.

Next steps: staff will ensure the appropriate zoning assignments and document the fee-waiver decision as part of the annexation file. Any future development proposals will be considered under applicable zoning and subdivision review processes.