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Council adopts Downtown La Crosse River area inventory and redevelopment plan after debate over stakeholder buy‑in
Summary
The committee voted 5–1 to adopt a nonbinding inventory and concept redevelopment plan for a 46.5‑acre area along the La Crosse River; staff and consultants said the plan contains no condemnation or funding and is intended to guide future redevelopment and grant applications.
The Judiciary Administration Committee voted 5–1 on Nov. 4 to adopt the Downtown La Crosse River area inventory and redevelopment plan, a concept framework that maps potential redevelopment sites and design ideas along a roughly 46.5‑acre area between the La Crosse River and the Riverpointe district.
Director Train, who introduced the item, told the committee the plan was funded through TID 17 and developed in coordination with a consultant team. She stressed the plan is a conceptual framework, not a rezoning or redevelopment order: “There’s no consideration for any condemnation of property. The city’s not coming in and purchasing any property with this plan. There’s no funding that’s allocated to this plan,” she said, adding that adoption would make the plan stronger for grant applications.
Consultants presented findings that surface parking comprises about 29% of the study area and building footprints just 15.7%, and showed concept sketches for up to 11 new mixed‑use buildings, a dog park and a proposed “Discovery Campus.” The consultants estimated roughly 486 potential new housing units across opportunity sites but described those numbers as market‑guided, approximate figures.
Public comment split. Sandra Cleary, a downtown property owner, praised the work but urged the council to “receive and file” the document rather than adopt it, calling the plan “ambiguous” and warning that adoption could be read as stronger direction without full stakeholder buy‑in. In contrast, Charles Hansen of La Crosse Discovery Campus Inc. urged adoption, saying the inventory signals to investors that the city is serious about redevelopment.
Council debate focused on the level of stakeholder engagement and the plan’s role as a concept versus a directive. One council member said there was limited public engagement and expressed hesitancy about adoption; supporters said adoption would help leverage grant funding and give staff clearer direction. The motion to adopt passed 5–1. The adopted resolution will be placed on next week’s common council agenda for final action.
The plan’s staff materials and consultant analysis note that any rezoning, TIF agreements or project‑level approvals would return to the common council and that the plan includes no commitments of city funding.
