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Plan Commission schedules special meeting after public opposition to U-Haul storage proposal
Summary
The Plan Commission scheduled a June 17 special meeting after roughly 16 residents and local business owners objected to Amerco/U-Haul’s request to build two self-storage buildings totaling 51,977 sq ft at 1100 N. Railroad St., citing aesthetics, business impact and potential flooding; commission noted limits under Wisconsin Act 67.
The Plan Commission of the City of Eagle River scheduled a special meeting for June 17, 2026 after a continuation of a public hearing on a conditional use permit for Amerco Real Estate Company/U-Haul to build two self-storage buildings totaling 51,977 square feet at 1100 N. Railroad Street (computer number 221-1019-06).
Mayor Deb Brown opened the hearing; Shawn Odden represented Amerco/U-Haul and Justin Vreeland of Vreeland Associates answered questions about updated engineering plans, erosion-control and stormwater management measures, landscaping, lighting and siding samples. City staff said MSA Engineering had not completed its review of the updated plans.
About 16 residents and business owners spoke during the public comment period, opposing the project on multiple grounds: the proposed buildings’ visual appearance and size, potential effects on property values, possible impacts on local businesses in the BID district, and concerns that removing roughly six feet of fill during construction could increase flooding risk. Business owners on Bluebird Road, including Jay Stock of Tribute Brewing Company and representatives from Bortolotti’s Cin Cin, requested additional time to obtain property appraisals to quantify potential economic impact.
Commissioners discussed constraints created by Wisconsin Act 67, which limits grounds on which a municipality may deny a conditional use permit, and emphasized the need for a complete technical review of stormwater and drainage plans before taking a final vote. Vreeland described infiltration basins and ditches as components of the proposed stormwater approach; staff noted MSA Engineering had not had sufficient time to complete its examination.
Because of the number of public objections and outstanding technical review, Commissioner John Hletko moved and Commissioner Mary Horant seconded a motion to hold a special Planning Commission meeting on June 17, 2026 to allow business owners and city engineers time for further due diligence. The motion carried on a roll-call vote with all members present voting aye.
The special meeting will give the city time to obtain engineering review and allow adjacent business owners to provide appraisal information; no final decision on the conditional use permit was made at the June 4 meeting.
