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Planning commission approves DNR property rezoning, vehicle‑sales permit and several zoning changes
Summary
The Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission approved a set of largely uncontested land‑use items: reclassification and rezoning of a DNR parcel at 473 Griffith Avenue, a conditional‑use permit for vehicle sales at 510 12th Avenue North, a petition to vacate a portion of Street Avenue North, and amendments to driveway standards in the zoning code. Most motions passed unanimously by voice vote.
At its meeting the Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission approved several routine and staff‑recommended land‑use actions.
The commission approved a comprehensive‑plan amendment and rezoning for the state of Wisconsin parcel at 473 Griffith Avenue (Parcel ID 3414095) to reflect established Department of Natural Resources uses on site; staff said the DNR facilities were previously overlooked during map creation and recommended converting the property from a mixed residential/governmental public institutional designation to governmental/public institutional and rezoning from Rural Residential (RR) to Institutional (I‑1). Ryan Austin moved to approve the plan map amendment and the commission voted 7–0.
The commission also granted a conditional‑use permit for Athena to operate vehicle sales and rental at 510 12th Avenue North (Parcel ID 3400902). Staff recommended approval subject to two conditions: submit an updated site plan showing all parking requirements and allow the Community Development Department to approve minor modifications. Applicant Athena Hopling introduced her business and said she is relocating from Highway 54; the commission approved the permit by voice vote, 7–0.
A petition to vacate a segment of Street Avenue North from Brown Street to Wilson Street was recommended for approval by staff, who noted no underground utilities are present and wetlands limit northward extension. The commission approved the vacation 7–0 and will forward the petition to the common council for final action.
Finally, the commission approved an amendment to Chapter 11 (Zoning Ordinance, Article 6 Division 3) to align driveway surfacing and setback rules and to revise auxiliary parking bay standards (including removal of the screening requirement and relaxed size limits to accommodate larger recreational vehicles). Alder Ryan Austin moved the ordinance amendment and the commission passed it by roll call, 7–0.
These items will be forwarded to the common council as recommendations where applicable; the solar plant conditional‑use permit and associated rezoning (items considered separately) also move forward to council and finance/property committee review.
