By Chris Spangler
The Fort Atkinson Plan Commission on Tuesday approved a revised site plan for the Badger Shops in the Robert L. Klement Business Park on the city’s south side.
The property in question, Lot 11, is located at the corner of Mielke Drive and Commerce Parkway.
The panel had given the go-ahead for the project in April, but the plans have changed from building 17 two-unit contractor shop buildings at 2,475 square feet each to 12 two- to three-unit contractor shop buildings.
Nine of them will be three-unit buildings at 3,701 square feet each, while two will be three-unit buildings measuring 3,735 square feet each and one will be a single-unit building at 3,000 square feet.
Altogether, there will be 43,714 square feet of building space constructed, slightly more than the 42,075 square feet previously approved.
The units will be sold separately. Developer Todd Willkomm of Epic Property Management LLC is planning to form a condominium association to maintain the shared components of the site, such as the parking areas, drive isles, landscaping, stormwater and the like.
City engineer Andy Selle noted in April that the shops’ proposed use will be a mix of office, personal and professional services, indoor maintenance, vehicle repair, light industrial and indoor storage/wholesaling.
Amenities will include office space, a full restroom facility, a heated shop with 12-foot overhead door and floor drains. The interior can be customized to a buyer’s specific needs based on approved use.
Construction is slated for two phases. Phase 1 will include buildings 1-6, facing the intersection of Commerce Parkway and Mielke Drive, while Phase 2 will include buildings 7- 12, on the southern half of the site.
The commission unanimously approved the plan with four conditions, including that construction must commence within 24 months of purchase, with Phase 1 being completed within one year.
Other business
In other business, the Plan Commission:
• Gave permission to Zhu Real Estate to repair the building facade located at 99 N. Main St., the location of 99 Sushi, to correct water leakage issues and replace dilapidated façade materials.
The project also includes some improvements to the door and façade of 97 N. Main St. next door.
Selle said the owner intends to use espresso and sand paint that will better fit with colors and materials currently on the building. A new black awning will be installed on the east and north sides of 99 Sushi.
In addition, the owner will remove the blue and orange paint from the cream brick at 97 N. Main St., as well as replace the residential door with a commercial-grade door in dark bronze.
The Historic Preservation Commission had reviewed the proposal earlier this year and offered suggestions that Ken Zhu accepted.
“They will be making the colors more appropriate, as well as well as removing the paint from 97 N. Main’s brick front and putting things more appropriate for the downtown area,” Selle told the commission.
The property is located in the Downtown Historic Mixed-Use District, and thus requires a Special Area Design Review process undertaken by city staff and the Plan Commission.
• Advanced to the full city council a preliminary certified survey map for the property located at 121 Jackson St.
Owners James and Catherine Kirchberg are planning to join a portion of 121 Jackson St. to 711 W. Sherman Ave. They own both lots.
Selle noted that the Sherman Avenue lot is a nonconforming square, while the Jackson Street lot is very deep and wide.
“They would like to extend the short square lot back, creating a deeper lot, and then square up their existing lot. Both of those lots would be conforming lots …,” Selle said.
Responding to a question from Commissioner Davin Lescohier, Selle explained that the zoning district requires a minimum square footage of 6,000 square feet.
“The minimum width, I think, is 40 feet; the minimum depth is 100 feet,” he said. “You can have a smaller width and a longer depth or a wider width and a shorter depth, but those are the minimums.”
He said the square Sherman Avenue lot is 3,000 to 3,500 square feet, not meeting the minimum standards for a residential lot.
“Now with the addition extending the depth of that lot to, I believe, 120 feet, the frontage there at 60 feet will give us a lot that is meeting the minimum depth and width requirements, as well as the square footage for an SR-7 lot,” he added.
• Advanced to the city council a recommendation relating to an Extra Territorial Certified Survey Map for a property located at W7462 County Highway C.
William Stroupe would like to rezone an approximately 2.5-acre lot with an existing house and outbuildings.
This will separate that lot from a current 40-acre parcel to which the home and outbuildings are attached.
Because this is located within the extra-territorial area of the City of Fort Atkinson, it needs to go to the Plan Commission and city council for approval.
City hall, file photo/Kim McDarison.
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