Commission approves vacation of 9-foot strip on 13th Street South for Badger Corrugating expansion

The La Crosse City Planning Commission on Dec. 1 approved a resolution to vacate the western 9 feet of 13th Street South adjacent to the Badger Corrugating property so the company can permanently incorporate that strip into its campus.

Tim, a city planning staff member, told the commission the area has long been used for employee parking and that aerial imagery shows use dating back at least to the early 2000s. “The applicant who is Badger Corrugating is requesting to vacate the Western 9 feet of 13th Street South for [employee] parking, which they’ve been repeatedly getting street privilege permits for over the last couple decades,” Tim said, and recommended approval because staff found no adverse neighborhood effects.

Commissioners asked about the city’s process for receiving compensation when public land is sold; staff said surplus/competitive-sale rules apply to tax parcels, not rights-of-way. Commissioner Yeager and others praised staff coordination with the company. Council member Trost moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Yeager seconded and the motion passed. Staff noted two individuals attended in support of the request.

The resolution vacates a public right-of-way adjacent to an active business and will allow the owner to use the land as private property; the city did not record a detailed vote tally in the public record beyond the motion passing. The commission’s action does not, on its face, change other properties or zoning in the area.

Next steps: staff and the applicant will proceed with the legal steps needed to finalize the vacation and parcel consolidation.