RIVER FALLS – The River Falls City Council gave its seal of approval to the River Falls Senior Living general development plan at its June 22 meeting.

The proposed 84-unit senior and independent living facility, with assisted living and memory care, will be at 700 S. Main St. or what is known as the McEwen block. Four 55-plus independent living patio townhomes are also proposed, at 706 Sycamore St.

The council also referred the right-of-way vacation of portions of East Park and Sycamore streets to the Plan Commission for review. A public hearing will be held Aug. 24.

As a negotiated requirement of the planned Tax Increment District, East Park Street will be realigned to intersect with West Park Street. To do this, the two homes at 660 and 684 S. Main St. will be demolished.

Those two streets are currently narrow, rough gravel without curb, gutter, lighting or sidewalks. The new streets will be asphalt with sidewalks and on-street parking. An alternative access will also be built to Associated Dentist from Park Street.

In 2012, the city had planned to vacate East Park Street and create a cul-de-sac at Sycamore. Now that that plan is off the table, that pieshaped piece of property will be returned to previous owner Scott Beske.

The total development project, proposed by Frisbie Architects LLC, is projected to cost $22 million, including land purchase, demolition of three homes, construction, site work and landscaping, street work and public infrastructure improvements. The project is expected to create 35 full-time positions with wage totaling $1.6 million annually, once the project is off the ground and running.

Other business

•Mayor Dan Toland reappointed Tim Thum to the Utility Advisory Board through May 2024. He also appointed Mark Wespetal to serve a remainder of a term through May 2022.

•Toland proclaimed June as

Renderings courtesy of Frisbie Architects LLC