Plan Commission approves conditional use permit for construction-related business at 525 Jefferson Street

The Fort Atkinson Plan Commission on March 24 approved a conditional use permit to allow a construction-related business to occupy 525 Jefferson Street, permitting indoor vehicle maintenance and repair, indoor storage and related sales and service uses.

Director Drager told the commission the site is an existing 1.8-acre parcel with a roughly 34,000-square-foot building and that the proposed tenant would provide services similar to the building’s prior use. Drager said staff’s primary outstanding issue was parking: "the parking area in the back with a proper striping would allow for the recommended or needed amount of parking spaces required for the uses of the building," and staff recommended paving existing gravel parking and submitting a formal parking and striping plan.

Staff’s recommended conditions — taken from the staff report — limit vehicle repair to indoor activities for this applicant, require all parking areas to be paved to city standards with a submitted parking plan, require approaches constructed to city ordinance, call for installation of public sidewalks along Clarence and Lurman within one year, and require bicycle parking when Jefferson Street is reconstructed. Staff also noted exterior storage was not part of the approved plan.

Commission discussion focused on bike parking classifications and minor code clarifications; commissioners said they were encouraged by the applicant’s prior investment in similar sites. A motion to approve the CUP subject to the staff-recommended conditions passed by voice vote.

The permit approval is conditioned on the stated requirements; substantial changes to the use or plan will require the applicant to return to the commission.