Permit notifications deep dive tabled

RIVER FALLS – River Falls is poised to add another housing development to its south side this summer, if the City Council approves a recommendation from the Plan Commission.

The Plan Commission approved a General Development Plan for South Pointe First Addition at its April 7 meeting. A GDP is a conceptual plan that outlines the development’s proposed land uses, lot layout, access, utilities, open space, landscape areas, structure location, and housing unit density.

If all development steps are approved, the addition will consist of 29 single-family housing units along Aurora Circle and Steelhead Drive. Phases 1 and parts of 2 of the original 32-acre South Pointe development have been completed. The next phase totals 8.92 acres and will provide single-story, two-story, twin home and villa-style options. The area north of Steelhead Drive is proposed to be typical single-family housing units, while the area south and east of Steelhead Drive will be tailored to senior housing units.

Public improvement construction will begin this spring, while home construction should be begin this summer. The project is anticipated to take one to two years, said City Planner Kendra Ellner.

The City Council will vote on the proposed addition April 26. GMTZ LLC submitted the GDP proposal.

Permit notifications

A City Council member had asked the Plan Commission to examine the municipal code’s requirements for the city to notify property owners or residents within a specified distance from a property where a planning permit has been requested. The intent is to notify citizens when their property many be affected by a land use change.

Currently, property owners are required to be notified of the following permits if they occur within 300 feet of their property:

•Home occupation

•Historic preservation

•Special use permit (within 500 feet, property owner and/or resident)

•Municipal code changes

•Amendments (rezoning) The city is not required to, but provides courtesy notices to property owners within 300 feet of planned unit developments and final plats/subdivisions, Ellner said.

The Plan Commission was asked to consider policy items such as the distance of notifications, whether it should be property owners and/or residents or just property owners, and which permits require notifications. Important considerations include how much notification is enough or too much and “NIMBYism,” – “not in my backyard” thinking.

City staff said no citizens had expressed concerns about the current notification process or distances; Alderperson Sean Downing thought it was worth looking at after the City Council amended the special use permit ordinance in 2021 to require a 500-foot notification requirement rather than the standard 300 feet. At that time, the council also required the notification be sent to residents and property owners.

“If it’s not broken, why fix it?” said Plan Commission member Christopher Holtkamp.

Alderperson Diane Odeen agreed, saying she preferred more time to see if anyone had concerns about the requirements.

”Let’s see how that works (the new special use permit requirements),” Odeen said. “Let’s see if we get significantly more public feedback from that before we start fixing things that aren’t broken.”

Cemetery Road

Community Development Director Amy Peterson said starting in 2022, Cemetery Road will be reconstructed from South Main Street to Highway 65 by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The road will be resurfaced and Emory Circle access will be closed.

Preliminary design work is also in progress for reconstructing South Wasson Lane between Cemetery Road and Cascade Avenue, including a roundabout at the South Wasson Lane and Cascade Avenue intersection.

The River Falls Plan Commission approved a General Development Plan for South Pointe First Addition along Steelhead Drive and Aurora Circle. The City Council will vote on the GDP at its April 26 meeting. Map courtesy of City of River Falls