By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
SUAMICO – With village committees and commissions not meeting because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Suamico village board conducted a special meeting Monday, April 27, for four public hearings on matters the Planning and Zoning Commission would have taken up.
To get the commission’s views on a planned development district (PDD) amendment and three conditional use permit (CUP) applications, Zoning Administrator Steve Dunks emailed commission members regarding the requests the board voted on.
The board unanimously approved the PDD amendment sought by Midwest Expansion to add a lot to the existing apartment development at the end of Parkfield Court on the northeast side, which allows the construction of two additional 12-unit apartment buildings and an additional free-standing garage.
Dunks said the added lot was in the original plans, but the developer wasn’t able to obtain the land from the adjacent property owner at the time the PDD was originally approved.
He said the additional apartment buildings will match those currently under construction with all buildings being similar in style and quality to the Urban Edge apartments Midwest Expansion completed in Suamico a few years ago.
Action on permits
The board approved two of the three CUP requests and denied the other.
B&S Holdings, which was already allowed to have a service repair shop at 1675 Summerfield Court restricted to vehicles that were part of the sales lot of The Dr’s Trailer & RV Shop, received approval of a CUP to allow the servicing of trailers and RVs for retail customers.
The permit’s conditions state any expansion into body damage or painting services will require additional approvals, while “substantially damaged” vehicles or trailers are limited to a maximum of 48 hours on site.
Scott and Jennifer Weslow received approval of a CUP to allow no more than three horses on their rural residential property at 3018 St. Pats Dr.
The permit conditions also call for a fenced-in pasture area to remain clear of any currently mapped wetlands, manure to be maintained sufficiently as to not become a nuisance for the surrounding properties and adjacent stream, and constructing an approximately 12×20-foot, open-air shelter at least as far off the road as the home, with direct access to the fenced-in area.
Village Administrator Alex Kaker said the CUP application from Kevin and Peggy Sue Mason, which the board denied on a 5-1 vote, sought approval of a home-based tax preparation/accounting business with two to three employees at southeast corner of the southern intersection of Big Timber Circle and Northwood Drive.
He said there is an issue in village code related to having an employee from not in the home with a home-based business.
Kaker said the village could see more home-based businesses because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the board directed village staff to review the code on home-based businesses within the next 60 days and, if the code is changed, the Masons could resubmit a permit application.
Dunks informed the board the village code allows for a home-based business that does not employ any persons that are not residents of the dwelling.
He said a CUP would be required to have employees report to the home, and the Masons requested two to three part-time employees be allowed when the zoning code limits that as a conditional use to a maximum of two employees.