New Rhinelander income-based senior housing development takes step forward

The Rhinelander plan commission approved Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for new housing development off of Boyce Drive at its Jan. 13 meeting. The proposed housing development would be located behind CoVantage Credit Union on a 2-6 acre plot.

According to Rhinelander mayor Kris Hanus, the CUP was approved with two conditions. The first was that the company, agent for Riverview Hall, LLC. come back to the commission with a site plan. Second, he said, the company was mandated to coordinate with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). These are already conditions by which the entity must comply, but Hanus said this was put into the CUP as a reminder that the DOT owns that portion of Boyce Drive and the DNR must be consulted due to the proximity of the state forest natural area located there.

Hanus said the housing development would be much like the Rhine Haus, a housing complex near Hodag Park. It would be an income-based 55-and-older housing complex. The company uses WHEDA credits and determines rent based on income, he said.

“I know there are a lot of people who, maybe the husband has died, or maybe the wife has died, and the upkeep is too much, or the bathroom is upstairs, the laundry is downstairs, things that make their home less than ideal now,” Hanus said. “Having a place where there is an elevator, or where everything they need is all on one floor, becomes more important at some point.”

Hanus said he had heard the chorus of “What about me?” from people under that age group. He had heard from people who were in their 40s that were looking for more affordable housing for their families, or people in their 20s just starting out, as was to be expected. Each person was looking out for their own best interests.

“As those older people decide to sell their homes because there is a better option for them, that frees up more housing for younger people, too,” he said. He pointed to the aging population of Rhinelander as reason a development like this one would be important. The developer, he said, would also hold 10 percent of the new facility for veterans, a need Hanus said is also important in the Rhinelander community.

Other business

The plan commission also took up the matter of a tourist rooming house (TRO) in downtown Rhinelander, across from the courthouse. The single-family dwelling at 10 S. Oneida Street was approved with all of the normal conditions to which the city has applied all other tourist rooming houses within the city as well as two additional conditions. 

Hanus said the property had undergone extensive remodeling and had not yet achieved their certificate of occupancy. Receipt of that inspection and subsequent certification was one additional condition. 

The other condition was due to a shared driveway with a neighboring property. The condition, requested to be added by Hanus, was that the TRO stay in good standing with its neighbors. Should their be any issues with parking or use of the driveway, this would allow the owner of the neighboring rental to bring the matter back before the commission for review of the TRO approval. 

A site plan was also approved for Dahl Auto, located at 1737 N. Stevens St. Hanus said the plan was basically to demolish the existing building and to rebuild in the same place. It would require a fire hydrant to be installed and some more curbing, but other than that, it was simply replacing an existing structure.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].