Lakefront condo project gets nod at planning meeting

The John Vogelheim condominium/townhouse project was almost a shoo-in at Tuesday evening?s public hearing/planning commission meeting. Those present at the public hearing had nothing but good things to say about the project, and the planning commission has done everything in its power to approve the project while making sure it meets all the criteria and zoning requirements. The project already has the approval of the zoning board of appeals for a density variance for 38 units instead of 30.

Vogelheim was given approval for five of the six planned building units with a tentative approval subject to the zoning board of appeals? variance or reconfiguration of the sixth building. At issue are the setback requirements of more than the now 13-feet on the site plan for the sixth building. Commissioners assured Vogelheim that the commission was indeed in favor of the project and thought he would not have any trouble working out the differences with the ZBA.

PLANNING COMMISSION chairman Del Conley told Vogelheim, ?It?s all up to the ZBA and with our approval tonight, you would not have to come back to the planning commission again.? Any question of a variance for the setbacks would revolve around a safety issue in case of emergency for the fire department to have room to properly service the building.

General consensus indicated a variance should not be a problem as the object of the zoning ordinance, and not the letter of the law, would need to be met. In the public hearing portion of the meeting, with more than 20 people present, there was not an opposing comment uttered, in fact, those present voiced their wholehearted approval of the project, with only a question of cleanup of the demolition process being brought up. Vogelheim assured those present he already had a permit, and the demolition is slated to begin around June 10.

It would take about 30 days with all the cleanup being completed immediately before any further action is taken. Local real estate agent Phil Budnik was present to lend his support, saying the project could be a gem to draw new business to the area and he hopes the commission would give its full support for the project.

HARBORMASTER Ken Rasche was present and also praised the project. ?I?ve worked for 14 years next to that area, and I wish I had $1 for each time somebody said, ?You people should put up some condos over there.? This is a great project. I think it will keep our harbor busy as well. The competition with this harbor is a welcome thing.? Vogelheim revealed to the commission that his project will reflect the local history of the area and will be in keeping with a nautical theme. It will be called the Monroe/Whiteley Condominiums after his relatives and the Whiteley name.

?I got the name from my grandfather, and the Whiteley family was married into the Hoeft family…my grandmother,? Vogelheim said of the name chosen for the project. The old Molitor Mill was originally located in that area and the name of the street will be Molitor Mill Drive. Complex building names would reflect local historic fishermen: Klann, Centala, Mertz, Heward, Platz, and Lamb. Pilot?s Point would designate the land point, and the harbor would be called Vogelheim Harbor & Docks. Commission member Milt Very praised the completeness and complexity of the site plans submitted by Vogelheim.

UTILITIES WOULD be underground and the storm sewers would be a newer recommended method by the Department of Environmental Quality that uses catch basins that run off into designated rain gardens within the complexes. The rain gardens would have a 10,000 cubic foot capacity

and be more than enough to handle any flood conditions. According to planning commission discussion, the only problem encountered with the site plan from Vogelheim was the setback on building complex C located nearest the waterfront.

It showed only a 13-foot setback. The two problems are, according to Very: ?The relationship of the bottomlands to establish property lines, and the approval of the fire chief (for safety reasons) are the only two points of contention,? Very told the commission and Vogelheim. The need for a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals on the setbacks was agreed upon by the commission.

The motion to autorize building the project on the waterfront land was unanimously approved, with tentative approval given for the building C structure, subject to ZBA variance or building configuration.