By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
HOWARD – A preliminary step to construct three 20-unit apartment buildings at the corner of Riverview Drive and Maywood Avenue was approved Monday, Jan. 28, by the village board.
Board members backed a recommendation from the Plan Commission to approve a request from Keith Duquaine for a preliminary Planned Development District (PDD) at that site.
Community Development Director Dave Wiese said finalizing a PDD in Howard involves a four-step process with the first step for this proposed project having involved commission members deciding whether they like the idea of three 20-unit apartments with some extra garage space and then forwarding it to the board.
Wiese said more details about the project, such as with a site plan or construction drawings, would subsequently be provided to the Plan Commission and the board for approval of the final PDD.
“Unlike a preliminary plat, if you approve a preliminary (PDD), it doesn’t mean you’re obligated to go ahead with the development,” Wiese said. “But that being said, you are telling the applicant, ‘Go spend some money and put some detail in.’ So generally, you’re looking at the concept, you’re approving the concept of having apartments here.”
The vacant 3.655-acre parcel where the apartment project is proposed is adjacent to a salvage yard to the north and also located along Riverview Drive along Duck Creek to the south.
The project calls for having 12 two-bedroom and eight one-bedroom units in each of the three two-story apartment buildings.
There would also be 60 garage stalls – 12 attached to the apartment buildings and 48 detached – along with additional surface parking.
Vehicles would enter and exit from Riverview Drive.
Rent ranges are listed from $749 to $1,050 per month.
Upon being given final approval to proceed, the project timeline calls for breaking ground in the second quarter of this year with completion of the first building in December.
The second building is slated to be finished in March 2020 with completion of the third building set for June 2020.
Narrow Bridge expansion
In other action, the board approved a conditional use permit for Scott Vann to construct an outdoor patio, bar and dining area at 2840 Shawano Ave., where Legends closed and will become the Narrow Bridge Brewhouse under new ownership.
Vann also owns the Plank Road Pub & Grill in De Pere and plans to remodel the Legends site before taking it over as the Narrow Bridge Brewhouse
The addition will be placed on the north side, where the front entrance is located on the existing building, and face the parking lot.
The 2.94-acre property shares some entry ways with Community First Credit Union and is zoned B-1 Business, but is also located near residential homes.
The expansion plans for the incoming business call for having music while using the patio for serving lunch and dinner during the warm weather months.
Mini-warehousing
Board members also finalized conditional use standards for regulating mini-warehousing, also known as self-storage units, in the I-3 Industrial Park Light Industry and the I-4 Industrial Park Heavy Industry zoning districts.
The new standards will not allow self-storage facilities to be built along Taylor Street, Glendale Avenue, Lineville Road, Cardinal Lane, Riverview Drive, Interstate 41 and State Highway 29 and/or adjacent frontage roads.
The allowed activities in a self-storage unit will be rental of the unit and pickup and deposit of goods and/or property in storage.
Storage units will not be able to be used for residences, offices, workshops, studios, hobby or rehearsal areas, etc.
Retail sales of any kind, including garage or estate sales or auctions or to conduct any kind of commercial activity, will be forbidden in the units.
Storage of flammable, perishable or hazardous materials or the keeping of animals will also not be allowed.
The rental of trucks, trailers or moving equipment will be prohibited unless approved as part of the conditional use permit process.
Self-service storage facilities adjacent to residential zones may not operate or allow tenant access between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The outdoor storage of boats, recreational vehicles, vehicles, etc., will be prohibited with all goods and property required to be stored in a self-service storage facility in an enclosed building.
Storage in outdoor storage pods or shipping containers will not be permitted.