May 10, 2021 at 9:48 a.m.
Plan commission gets first look at proposed $10 million housing complex
Developers vow to improve access to Holmboe
Plan commission gets first look at proposed $10 million housing complex
The proposed site plan for what is to be known as Riverview Estates was presented to the commission on May 4. Developers Reggie Fraley, president of Alpha Development & Construction, LLC, and Dwight and Meredith Webb, owners of Riverview Hall, LLC, along with designers and architects, explained the project which includes, in the first phase, the addition of two apartment buildings and a covered parking building on the north side of the renovated and relaunched Riverview Hall.
In the second phase, four townhouses are to be built on the southwest side of the property abutting Musson Brothers.
On May 18, the commission will hold a public hearing on the developer's request for a map amendment rezone that will be the first step in turning the plans into reality.
City administrator Zach Vruwink said the fact that the city's new zoning ordinances are still in the final approval stage puts city staff and the developers in an "interesting position" during the transition period. But he noted Fraley and Webb have been understanding about what was expected of them as they have worked with the new zoning code requirements.
The commission also found out relatively early in the presentation that Fraley is familiar with the city's comprehensive plan as well as the need for more housing in the city.
The former Taylor Park building will still offer rental housing for Nicolet College students as well as a bar and grill, computer gaming area, beauty salons and rental office space with a shared conference room and receptionist. This past year, 213 students resided on the property, Fraley noted in his presentation. The student housing will be upgraded during the renovation of Riverview Hall to make it even more attractive to students, he said.
When Webb received a conditional use permit (CUP) to operate Riverview Hall in April 2017, it included a provision that public access would be maintained to the trail system in the 34-acre Holmboe Conifer Forest State Natural Area. Fraley said that as part of their design for the new project, access would be moved to a different location which would have its own parking.
He also stressed that Holmboe is an asset to the development that will attract people.
"I've done this many times, it's (the development is) very eco-friendly," Fraley said. "The natural environment of the complex will blend in well with the Holmboe Forest. To have green space inside of our living area is very important to us."
Fraley said that there will be solar panels on the apartment buildings and added to Riverview Hall during the first phase of construction. He said Riverview Hall should be able to provide 100 percent of its electricity from the panels while up to 71 percent of the apartment buildings will get their power from the panels. He said the storm water from the parking lots and the road system will feed into retention ponds that will be able to control the flow into the city's stormwater system. A sizable amount of wetland mitigation is also built into the design.
Fraley explained that his daughter, Rashel Boers, formed a partnership with Webb, who is his nephew, and other investors who have chosen to not be identified yet, to develop the project.
"So it is kind of a family affair so far," Fraley said. "We do work as a team."
He said the group has been working on fine-tuning the details since fall, and are ready to get started on the project.
According to the plan presented to the commission, the Riverview Hall property will become part of the surrounding property owned by the group under the name Riverview Estates. The property is presently zoned Community Building District (CB) and the developers are asking for the land to be rezoned Planned Development District (PD) under the soon-to-be approved new zoning code.
When both phases of the project are completed, it should add 220 rental units ranging in size from 1 to 3 bedrooms and create the equivalent of 40 full-time jobs. Fraley said because the project is being financed in part by federal and state money, there will be some subsidized apartments in the mix.
He said the first phase will get underway as soon as all the permits have been approved. The second phase will start sometime in 2022.
Mayor Chris Frederickson welcomed the development as a way to hopefully kick start economic development. He said companies are leery of relocating to Rhinelander due to a lack of affordable housing in the area.
"We need housing and we need growth," the mayor said.
The plan commission will hold a public hearing on the map rezoning request at 5 p.m. May 18 in the council chambers at City Hall. If the rezoning request is approved, it will be sent on to the Common Council for final action. "An application for TIF (tax incremental financing) assistance" related to the project was also on the agenda for the council's Monday, May 10 meeting.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at jamie@rivernews online.com.
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