May 23, 2014 at 5:24 p.m.
72-unit apartment complex proposed for Driscoll Road
72-unit apartment complex proposed for Driscoll Road
Several Driscoll Road residents attended the meeting to express concerns about the project. The chief concern was the effect the proposed apartment complex would have on traffic along Driscoll Road.
"Driscoll Road is a dead-end and narrow," said Rankin Fleming, who along with his wife, Merrie Jo, owns the property directly across from the site of the proposed development. "The current residents are just about what Driscoll Road can handle. And I don't know if any of you have ever come down Driscoll Road in the middle of July, with all the summer residents and tourists, and tried to make a lefthand turn to go east on Lincoln Street. It is impossible."
"We're not opposed to development and construction in Rhinelander," he added. "If Driscoll Road was expanded and stoplights were put in place (at the intersection with Lincoln Street) I think you have a viable business opportunity. But as I see it right now, it is dangerous."
Such concerns were not directly addressed by the planning commission last week. That's where the agreement between the city and developer Fred Hoerchler will come into play. Those terms are still being negotiated and will be discussed further by the city's Water and Wastewater Committee on June 2. That committee will be reviewing the agreement because part of the preliminary negotiations that have occurred over the last year calls for the city to construct 1,250 feet of new water main from the Timber Heights subdivision to the development at an estimated cost of $114,000. That expense would be paid for with water utility revenue.
Without the city's participation, Hoerchler said his project will not work.
"Our initial discussion was that it would be a benefit for the city," Hoerchler said. "There's the potential that the water main could serve other areas and in the future eventually create a loop which is more desirable than having dead-end water mains. So there's a benefit to the city and the desire to participate was partially driven by that. The other trigger was that it's the only thing that will make this project feasible. It's unfortunate that the tax dollars created by this project won't offset the costs to the utility."
Public Works Director Tim Kingman said the water main would not be used by any other properties immediately. The benefit for the city is in the potential for the future. He said Town & Country Engineering did a service study for the larger area extending away from the development.
"There's potential with the looping of mains in the future that commercial property east toward Eisenhower Parkway could benefit from this," Kingman said. "There's nothing that would directly benefit now."
The planning commission recommended approval of the project contingent on the approval of a sufficient development agreement. Commission member Sandy Bergman said there are no zoning issues with the proposal, the only area the commission has to consider. Hoerchler had to come before the commission for site plan approval as well as a conditional use permit since the apartment complex will be multiple buildings.
"I think it's important to understand this property is properly zoned for what they want to do," Bergman said. "They could build one monstrous building. What they're trying to do is separate it down and cluster it, which is why they have to ask for a conditional use permit. Otherwise they could build regardless of what we say. The question of zoning is kind of a moot point. It's going to be about the water and the sewer and the development agreement."
As proposed, the apartment complex would be six separate buildings each containing 12 units with rent at approximately $850 to $900 a month. Eight of those units would be two-bedroom apartments. Four of the units would be one-bedroom apartments. Tom Wood, the agent representing Hoerchler, told the commission that the development will not impact the nearby wetlands and the water main would be the only cost for the city. The sewer infrastructure, including a lift station, would be one of Hoerchler's expenses.
It remains to be seen if the development agreement will address the traffic concerns Driscoll Road residents brought up. Many people said installing stoplights at the intersection with Lincoln Street would go a long way toward solving the issue.
"If nothing else, we need a stoplight on that road," said Paula Schneider. "Unless you want accidents there, that should be a concern of the city's."
There were also comments about how 72 additional apartment units would affect emergency vehicles coming down Driscoll Road. Fire Chief Terry Williams said he has no concerns.
"We know with putting in more residential units, we will be going over there more," Williams said. "I'm not worried at all about being able to get to these properties. If my personnel cannot drive an aerial ladder, which is the biggest truck I have, down that road and pass another vehicle without a problem, I'll fire them. I have no problem or concerns with getting my apparatuses down that road. As far as getting trapped down there if there's a fire, that can happen anywhere down Driscoll Road. If we have a fire, whoever is back there is going to be inconvenienced by not being able to leave their property until we're done. That can happen on any one of the dead-end roads in this town currently."
In terms of his department's ability to respond to fires on Driscoll Road, Williams said the new development will actually help. He said his department almost doesn't have enough hose to extend down Driscoll Road based on where they currently have to hook up to a water supply.
"By this development coming in, we can come from the other end with a great water supply," Williams said. "The water that's coming into this property is really a benefit to everyone else on Driscoll Road."
The city's Water and Wastewater Committee is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. June 2, where the development agreement will be discussed. If it receives the committee's OK, the agreement, conditional use permit and site plan would all be set for final approval by the City Council at its June 9 meeting.
Comments:
You must login to comment.