Planning commission recommends council approve 7-unit 565 Main Street West development despite neighbor objections

The City of Richmond Planning Commission voted March 27 to recommend that the City Council approve zoning and subdivision applications for a seven‑unit residential project at 565 Main Street West, even as nearby residents urged changes to protect privacy and manage stormwater.

City planner Kendra Ellner presented the proposal, saying the developer intends two duplexes and one triplex on the site for a total of seven units. Ellner said the property is zoned for two units per acre but the developer proposed five units per acre and has satisfied application requirements under a planned unit development (PUD) process.

During the public hearing, neighbor Wayne Lucken said he works nights and "doesn’t want little kids coming onto his property," and indicated a privacy fence would address his concern after Mayor Jim Hemmesch suggested that mitigation. Resident Pat Evens questioned whether similar one‑acre lots could now put seven units on their land if this project were approved and raised concerns about "spot zoning," placement of storage sheds and a dumpster at the front of the property. Tom Hommerding asked whether building setbacks accounted for DNR high‑water‑mark rules and whether runoff would affect neighboring lots.

Ariel and Nate Juetten, who said they purchased the house adjacent to the parcel in December, told the commission they expected a single‑family home and flagged privacy and setback concerns; Ariel cited Section 107‑208 of the city code when questioning setbacks. Attorney Ashley Bukowski told the commission each application would be treated individually. Developer Rod Gertken said runoff from the site would be routed to a filtration basin, with overflow directed to city systems, and offered to install a privacy fence if neighbors preferred one. Planner Kendra Ellner reiterated that the PUD process allows some flexibility in design.

After public comment, the commission moved through individual recommendations. Commissioner Jim Hemmesch moved to recommend the comprehensive plan amendment; Chuck Merten seconded and the motion passed. Hemmesch then moved to recommend the plat to council; Chad Vogt seconded and the motion passed. Merten moved to recommend the conditional‑use permit as submitted; Vogt seconded and the motion passed. Hemmesch moved to recommend all requested variances; Vogt seconded and the motion passed. The commission’s recommendations will be presented to the City Council at its April 2 meeting for final action.

The public hearing record includes multiple resident objections focused on privacy, the scale of the development relative to zoning, stormwater management and visual impacts such as dumpster placement. Commissioners recorded support for forwarding the applications to council with the commission’s recommendations; the transcript records motions and seconds for each recommendation but does not include a roll‑call vote tally for each motion beyond the recorded outcome that the motions "passed."