ELLSWORTH – The Ellsworth Village Board meeting April 16 saw not only board reorganization, but plans for a new housing development in Crossing Meadows.

The board approved a Certified Survey Map for Gerrard Corporation splitting a 17.04-acre outlot in the Crossing Meadows subdivision into two lots to be developed. It also approved rezoning the first lot from Agriculture to R3 (multi family dwelling) and leaving the second lot zoned Agriculture.

The first lot, at 7.62 acres, will include a multi-family development called Meadow Lark Eco Apartments, while the second lot, at 9.42 acres, will potentially house a solar field. The land is currently located in Tax Increment District #7, but the property will be taken out of that TID and placed into a new TID #13.

Paul Gerrard of the Gerrard Corporation said they plan to build a 54-unit building on the first lot while the second lot would stay empty at this point. The hope is to build a solar array on Lot 2 to offset energy costs. The building will be served by Alexander Avenue.

“We’ve been at this project for three or four years and we finally did receive last-minute funding at the end of the year last year that has really put this project back on the rails,” Gerrard said. “Because of what we experience in other markets, we want to go ahead with the green initiative; the single building gives us the biggest bang for our buck as far as geothermal cooling and heating. That building does have individual entrances on the first floor. We have located all of the three bedrooms on the lower level.”

Gerrard explained the Walker Administration approved workforce housing, which serves individuals in the community who make up to $80,000 per year. Ten units will be reserved for disabled/American veteran housing. Those will be rented out through the Veterans Administration; Gerrard said they have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Pierce County Veterans Office.

Gerrard said the original plan for the full parcel was 78 homes (twin home lots), but the plan has changed since 2004. He is hoping to start construction in September and is already ordering precast materials.

“We have management in place. You’re only as good as your last project,” he said as he referenced Gerrard Corporation’s 1300 Apartments in River Falls. “We’re trying to knock this one out of the park. We are trying to get to 90-95% efficiency with our green energy. We’re trying to lead the way for others to follow us. Hopefully they will. Maybe you as a board can put sustainability into projects.”

Gerrard said he is also planning to apply to the village’s Requests for Proposal for the former junior high property at 254 S. Chestnut St.

Huppert zoning

The board approved a zoning map amendment for Elizabeth Huppert, changing a parcel at 517 Railroad Ave. from agriculture to Residential R-1. Huppert intends to build an additional home on the site.

The 2.87-acre lot previously housed two homes, at 517 and 515 Railroad Ave. The mobile home at 515 Railroad Ave. has been removed, but the utilities are still present for a new home. About 1.9 acres are used for agriculture.

Ag Partners

The board approved a Site Plan Review for Ag Partners at 411 East Business Way, who is proposing to build a new dry fertilizer storage, receiving and loadout building to replace a current structure. The activities on the site will not be changing.

The property is zoned for industrial use and the new building will be similar to other existing Ag Partners’ facilities. The height of the proposed building is 55 feet with two towers exceeding that.

Organizational meeting

The board organized committees and made appointments at its organizational meeting, the first convened after the April 2 election.

The Board of Review will be held 5-7 p.m. May 15. The board includes Lance Austin, Tony Hines and Ryan Bench

Official paper: Pierce County Journal

Official Depository: CCF Bank

Village Attorney: Robert Loberg, Loberg Law Office

Health Officer: Pierce County Public Health

Animal Warden/Humane Officer: Chief Eric Ladwig

Weed Commissioner: Brad Vick

Cemetery Sexton: Village staff

Committees

Finance, Purchasing & Buildings: Chair Andrew Borner, Ryan Bench, Lance Austin

Health, License & Welfare: Chair Tom Schutz, Laurie Neeley, Austin

Salary & Labor: Chair Bench, Neeley, Austin

Street & Sidewalk: Chair Austin, Tony Hines, Borner

Water & Sewer: Chair Hines, Neeley, Borner

Parks, Recreation, Development: Chair Austin, Bench, Borner

Public Safety: Schutz (Ellsworth Fire), Neeley (Ellsworth Ambulance), Hines (alternate)

Solid Waste, Cable TV, Special: Chair Schutz, Hines, Austin

Community Development Authority: Chair Neeley, Bench, Roxy Birkel, Kaydi Sobottka, Paul Bauer, Kristi Miller, Dale Hines

CDBG Housing Program: Chair Hines, Schutz, Borner

Cemetery: Chair Bench, Hines, Schutz, Mark Anderson, Lisa Olson

Plan Commission: Chair Cristina Lalley, Becky Beissel, Borner, Bench, Curtis Betthauser, Mike Bull, Jay Nesseth

Board of Appeals: Chair Gerald Christianson, Hines, Bench, Neeley, Kristi Miller

Police: Chair Greg Place, Michele Cox, Donna Swenson, Lisa Olson, Michael Cook

TID Joint Review Board: Steve Georgakas, Borner

Sex Offender Residency Appeals: Karen Meyer, Matt Anderson, Donna Swenson, Amber Ristow (alternate)

ETZ: Borner, Cristina Lalley, Curtis Betthauser, Mike Bull, Tony Hines (alternate)

Library Board: President Judy Perkins, Neeley, Carter Schutz, Henrietta Jansa, Sharon Hofmeister, Angie Bjork, Michael Harris

President Pro-Tem: Borner