Applicant seeks to convert Pleasant Prairie church into single-family home; plan commission approves plan and zoning amendments

Pleasant Prairie planning staff told the commission that petitioner Jeremiah Lund, owner of 8405 104th Avenue, is proposing to convert the former First United Methodist Church building into a single-family residence. Staff recommended rezoning the parcel from I-1 PUD (institutional) to R-5 urban single-family residential, repealing the First United Methodist Church planned unit development ordinance, and amending the comprehensive plan land-use map from government/institutional to upper-medium-density residential. Staff also noted the petitioners requested release of Conditional Use Permit No. 10-03 related to parking in the 104th Avenue right-of-way and listed required permits needed for conversion, including a driveway permit to reduce the driveway entrance to 24 feet and a right-of-way permit to remove parking in the 104th Avenue right-of-way.

Jeremiah Lund introduced himself during citizen comment, saying, "My name is Jeremiah Lund, and, that's coming up on the agenda," and later told commissioners the conversion goal is to "preserve the history of the building" and give it a "new lease on life." Commissioners asked procedural and design questions (for example, whether an architect would be hired); Lund said they were not hiring an architect at this time. The commission moved and approved Plan Commission Resolution No. 25-0-3 and the associated zoning map and text amendments by voice vote; the staff packet lists conditions and required permits that must be satisfied before final building permits are issued.