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Plan Commission approves conditional use permit for 12-unit senior housing at 500 McMillan with modified parking allowance
Summary
The Plan Commission on Jan. 27 approved a conditional use permit to convert the former medical building at 500 McMillan into 12 senior housing units, subject to state plan review and local permits, and added a condition allowing 28 parking spaces where code minimum is 15.
The Fort Atkinson Plan Commission voted Jan. 27 to recommend approval of a conditional use permit to convert the existing medical building at 500 McMillan Street into senior housing with 12 units.
Staff (Director Draeger) told the commission the applicant revised elevations and site drawings after an earlier hearing and that the project would reduce pavement, add landscaping, install a dumpster enclosure and relocate a bike rack beneath a canopy. Staff said the project must obtain state plan review and local building permits and remain subject to the city's zoning code for senior housing in the institutional district.
The staff report noted the applicant seeks more parking than the zoning code requires: the code maximum noted in the report is 15 spaces, the applicant requested 28, and the commission approved a condition allowing 28 parking spaces for the development. The file also references Resolution number 14 47 in the 2026 fee schedule regarding parkland dedication and payment in lieu of parkland dedication and related impact fees.
Commissioner Ciccarelli said she was “very excited about this project,” and offered extensive input on site layout and future expansion possibilities, suggesting a larger fenced recreation area, a potential west entrance for easier resident access and ways the east side could accommodate additional units in a later phase. Staff said the developer preferred to retain flexibility to make some of those changes later based on tenant needs.
After discussion, a motion to approve the conditional use permit subject to the five staff conditions, minor changes as needed and the added parking condition was moved, seconded and approved; the chair said the motion carries and the matter will go to the City Council as recommended.
Why it matters: The permit authorizes a change of use that will add 12 senior housing units in the institutional zoning district and includes a one-time decision to allow parking above the code minimum; the project remains subject to state plan review and local permit approvals.
Next steps: Staff will forward the recommendation and any corrected documentation to the City Council; the applicant must obtain state plan review and building permits before construction begins.
