WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — A new multi-family apartment complex development is on the right track for construction.
At Monday afternoon’s Planning Commission meeting, the commission heard from both the developer and the public on rezoning 3411 Washington Street for a new multi-family apartment complex. The development project comes from Premier Real Estate Management, who currently manage two other apartment complexes in the area. One of those properties is neighboring senior apartment complex River Grove.
Mayor Zach Vruwink who also chairs the committee explained to WSAU News after the meeting why Premier is looking to build another apartment complex in Wisconsin Rapids. “Obviously with the market conditions they believe this city is underserved when it comes to apartments. And so the two-bedroom units would have 1,000 sq ft view. And about $1,000 a month for rent with a covered garage parking.”
Premiere came to the plan commission for a rezoning request, changing the lot from an R-3 Multi-Family Medium Density Residential District to an R-4 Multi-Family High-Density Residential District. Mayor Vruwink says the group needed a rezoning request to build more than 8 units in one building.
“The reason why they needed to pursue rezoning was because of the number of units that were proposed in each building. So current code with the property that they own, they could automatically build 8 unit buildings on the property. But they proposed 12 units per building so at this point they’ve approved the city and the planning commission for rezoning of the property.”
During the meeting, a public hearing was held for the rezoning request to let residents give their input on the project. Several residents from the neighboring apartment complex, River Grove Senior Village Apartments spoke during the hearing. The residents were concerned mainly about a loss of safety and a loss of peace and quiet with a change in density.
Vruwink feels that because the two complexes won’t share direct access with one another, that there should be very little concerns about the level of safety changing. “They’re not actually sharing any access. So Washington St. will be serving both developments separately. The developer because they own the senior facility as well as the property that they’re proposing to build the apartment buildings on, they actually separated the uses. I think from a city planning perspective separate drives and separate access as well as the natural vegetation will serve as a buffer between the two developments.”
Most of the planning commission was in favor of the development as it would bring an estimated $100,000 in tax revenue to the city. The project would also be constructed at 100% market rate, something the city hasn’t seen in almost 3 years.
Mayor Vruwink says it’s the complex is a good development for the community because it will help grow the economy in the city by adding housing. “We continue to face housing challenges in terms of quality, affordability, availability of housing. And so we’re always looking to grow the economy but that is always predicated on the amount of housing that’s available for people looking to take work here. So we’re always interested in dealing with the housing issue to the extent that we have developers looking to develop.”
The apartment project was passed by the plan commission 4-1 with Mayor Vruwink being the lone abstention. The rezoning recommendation now moves onto the city council meeting on March 19th. If the recommendation passes the city council construction on the project should begin in the summer of 2019.
