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Commission clears rezoning of Hager Street parcel to expand adjacent business despite neighborhood alley concerns
Summary
The commission approved rezoning a low-density residential parcel on Hager Street to commercial so an adjacent business can expand; nearby residents raised traffic and alley-access concerns and asked that parking access be from Hager Street rather than the alley.
The La Crosse City Planning Commission on Dec. 1 approved rezoning a parcel on Hager Street from low-density multiple dwelling to commercial to allow an adjacent business to expand its operations and add surface parking.
Tim, city planning staff, said the property owner and business owner of the adjacent parcel seek to purchase and rezone the site, remove existing dwelling units and construct an addition to expand the business campus. Staff recommended support, noting commercial use in that corridor is consistent with the comprehensive plan and Highway 53 corridor objectives.
Business owner James Willie described his ownership of nearby parcels and said the house on the subject lot is vacant and in poor condition; he said the expansion would give the business additional space, create employment opportunities in the neighborhood and improve the block’s appearance. Architect Colin Close of Midwest Design said the parcel is an outlying residential island in an otherwise commercial stretch and an addition would upgrade the block.
Neighbor Karen Doolin, who lives at 625 Caledonia Street and is adjacent to the property, raised traffic-safety concerns about alley access, saying residents see about 36 cars use the alley daily and asking that the applicant place parking access off Hager Street rather than the alley. The applicant said the plan calls for parking on the alley side but argued the new layout would create a safer visual entrance and exit and improve sightlines.
Council member Goggan (the district representative) asked clarifying questions about which buildings would remain and how ownership would be organized; the applicant confirmed the corner building would remain and be added onto and that the owner owns the adjacent warehouse.
Council member Trost moved to approve the rezoning; Commissioner Yeager seconded and the motion passed. The transcript records the motion passing but does not include a detailed roll-call tally. Staff noted design-review standards will apply to any future addition and that the project will need to meet those requirements before construction.
