WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The hot topic of Tuesday’s city council meeting was a rezoning request to approve a tavern location.
A file from the finance committee caused a heated discussion at Tuesday night’s Wausau City Council meeting. The file was a request from the Yang family to rezone the property at 316 Sherman St. to allow for a tavern. The tavern would be a location for the Hmong community to have a space for musical events and a place to meet.
Romey Wagner, a concerned citizen, and former council member spoke during the public comment section of the meeting in support of the tavern. He worked closely with the Yang family to put together the tavern business plan. He explains the goal of the proposed tavern. “It is a location that specifically the Hmong community would be able to get together to have festivals. To have Hmong culture things and really just a hangout place.”
The property does border both commercial and residential properties. City Planner Brad Lenz wrote in his memorandum to the plan commision that the tavern would differ from the historic use but would not be out of character for the area as it is mainly mixed use.
The main concern with the rezoning came from those in the residential locations around the property on Sherman St. Residents were concerned the tavern would bring crime to the area and lower the value of property in the area. There was also concern from city council members who talked about how historically taverns were unsuccessful in the area and causing more issues.
Wagner feels that the council’s decision from these concerns limits the opportunity for potential property owners. “It is not their job in my opinion to eliminate the opportunity for someone. And that’s what I felt they did tonight. They held the past against the peoples. I was disappointed that the council representative for that area voted against it.”
Wagner also thinks the council turned the zoning request into something else entirely. “This was a zoning request. I really think they turned it into a whether or not they should get a liquor license or not. I felt they should have changed the zoning. And then had the applicants move onto the next thing to apply for.”
The council ultimately denied the request 5 to 4 due to concerns of what a tavern would do to the area. Wagner does not believe the tavern would work at a different location as the location was planned closely with the Wausau World-Market, who would have shared a parking lot with the tavern. Both locations are owned by Chung Su Her.
