Wausau Plan Commission approves conditional use permit for vehicle sales; nearby homeowner warns of property-value impacts

The Wausau Plan Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit to allow vehicle sales at 1740 Business Highway 51, 1820 Business Highway 51, and 1735 Merrill Avenue, after staff recommended approval subject to revised site, architectural and landscape plans.

Terry, a city planning staff member, told the commission the application (listed in the meeting packet as Lee Car Wausau Inc.) is a conditionally permitted use in the Suburban Mixed Use zoning district and that an updated site plan submitted to staff meets the 10-foot pavement setback. Terry said staff will require submission of revised architectural elevations and a revised landscape plan for staff review and approval before full implementation.

At the start of the meeting, resident Amanda Nitchie, who said she owns 1740 Merrill Ave., expressed concern the proposed use could reduce her home’s value and said City assessors could not tell her whether the change would affect assessments. "My main concern for me is going to be my property value," she said, adding worries about traffic, lighting and construction noise and asking whether any form of compensation would be available if values fell.

Commissioners questioned staff and the applicant about setbacks and lighting. Alderman Watson asked whether lighting choices could limit light pollution; Terry said the project’s photometric plan meets the city’s lighting ordinance, uses cutoff, downcast fixtures, and showed "zero almost at the property line" in the plan (the photometric is included in the packet on page 19 of 26).

Commissioner Borneman moved to approve the conditional use permit subject to staff recommendations; Balkan seconded. The commission voted in favor with no recorded opposition and approved the permit. The motion requires the applicant to submit revised plans (site plan, architectural elevations, landscape plan) for staff review and approval as conditions of the permit.

The packet names the applicant as Lee Car Wausau Inc.; the audio transcript includes a later, likely garbled reference to "Elite Car Wash" during the roll call. The meeting record lists the packet applicant name as the authoritative reference; the transcript did not reconcile the discrepancy.

Next steps: staff will review the revised plans the applicant must submit under the condition of approval. The commission adjourned following the vote.