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Plan Commission recommends rezoning near Sheridan Road for Thunder Lube expansion despite neighborhood objections
Summary
The commission voted to recommend rezoning 1010 S. 16th Ave. from SR-5 to PUD to allow Thunder Lube to add employee parking and two service bays; neighbors raised traffic, child-safety and property-value concerns. The recommendation goes to City Council on July 14.
The Wausau Plan Commission on June 16 recommended that City Council approve a rezoning of 1010 South 16th Avenue from SR-5 (single-family) to a Planned Unit Development to allow Thunder Lube and Service to expand its facility and add employee parking.
Thunder Lube owner said the project would add approximately 35 feet to the building, create two additional service bays in a rear addition and convert an adjacent rental house into employee parking to reduce on-street parking. "I'm not looking to increase the volume of my business," the owner said, noting he employs about 10 people and that the new lot would primarily be used by employees.
Neighbors said the conversion would push commercial activity into an otherwise residential block, add truck and customer traffic, and endanger children who walk to nearby Judy Jones School. "We have kids in the street. It's unreal," one resident said, noting there are no sidewalks and expressing fear that increased deliveries and winter plowing would create hazards.
Staff said the PUD process will require a Specific Implementation Plan that addresses circulation, landscaping and fencing; staff characterized the rezoning as a mixed fit with the comp plan because it would change the residential block face but noted the future land-use map allows neighborhood-facing commercial uses in some locations. Commissioners asked about garbage pickup, driveway access and how employee parking would be routed; the applicant said garbage pickup will remain on the Sheridan side and that the new parking will reduce curbside stacking.
A motion to recommend the rezoning (moved by Balkan, second by Barnum) passed with one commissioner opposed; the recommendation will be transmitted to City Council for the July 14 agenda. Commissioners emphasized that specific site-plan details (fencing, tree preservation and screening) will return for review during the PUD/SIP process.
If Council approves the rezoning, the applicant will still need to submit an SIP with detailed plans for circulation, screening and stormwater to secure the required approvals.
