Neighbors press the commission on parking, traffic and flood risks during two rezoning hearings

Residents at both the 1035 East Avenue and 2137 Sand Lake Road hearings made sustained objections focused on parking layout, neighborhood character, traffic and flood risks.

At the East Avenue hearing neighbors asked that parking be placed behind units rather than adjacent to bedroom windows and said even a small surface lot would change the street feel. Steve Metke criticized the property owner’s past oversight, saying, “He doesn't care about Onalaska,” and urged the commission to require buffers and screening if development proceeds. The applicant acknowledged he should have talked with neighbors earlier and said he would do so as the project advances.

At Sand Lake Road, multiple residents described repeated flooding events and questioned whether the proposed development’s runoff and a single driveway on a curve would exacerbate existing problems. Andrea Gunderson listed recent years when driveways were washed out and asked for a no‑net‑increase runoff guarantee and a detailed stormwater plan. Staff and commissioner Jared Holter said the site has FEMA conditional map revisions from prior fill placement and that the developer must submit stamped engineering and stormwater plans that comply with DNR and city requirements.

Both hearings produced concrete requests for follow‑up: neighbors asked for fencing or living screens, clear stormwater engineering documentation, and review of driveway sight lines by the county highway department. Staff consistently noted that rezoning or PUD approval is not the final technical clearance: detailed site plans and permits remain necessary.