Plan Commission approves renovation of 222 W. Saint Paul Ave., requires pedestrian access and cross‑access easement

The Waukesha City Plan Commission voted 4–1 to approve a final site plan and architectural review for 222 West Saint Paul Avenue, a project that will refurbish a long‑vacant commercial façade, create four tenant spaces and repave an on‑site parking area.

Charlie (planning staff) told the commission the proposal includes new siding, windows and doors, pavement and landscaping on a property zoned B‑3 General Business. The staff presentation noted the building currently houses Hannah Home Healthcare in one portion, while a second commercial frontage has been blighted for years and is proposed to be divided into four tenant spaces including an auto‑detailing bay and a gym.

Staff recommended approval with conditions: the applicant must provide evidence of a recorded cross‑access easement with the adjacent property before building permits are issued; any fence that was installed without planning approval must be removed or relocated prior to permits (or relocated to a corner location acceptable to staff); the fence must include a pedestrian opening and a gate for potential vehicle access; and all building, engineering and fire department comments must be addressed.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on parking and fence location. Several commissioners said the existing 39 spaces (32 on the home‑health side, seven on the other) would be adequate only if the property retains shared access with the adjacent lot. Commissioner Jack Wells moved approval with staff comments and an explicit requirement for a pedestrian opening through the fence so tenants and customers can move between lots.

Architect Ashley Pollux, speaking for the owner, said the owner would likely remove the fence rather than invest in automatic gates and the ADA relocation that staff’s preferred solution could require. "If our options are either to relocate and add these gates or not get approval at all, they'd be more inclined to remove it altogether," Pollux said.

Commissioner Keller cast the only dissenting vote, saying he was not comfortable with allowing the fence to remain in its present location even with a pedestrian opening. Chairing commissioner Joan Frank Hoare said the conditions and staff oversight leave a path for the applicant to proceed while protecting pedestrian access and parking functionality.

The approval requires the cross‑access easement to be recorded with the county register of deeds and all applicable permits and department reviews to be completed before construction begins. The applicant will also be responsible for removing or relocating any work that had been completed without permits; such work may be subject to double fees per staff testimony.

The commission encouraged the applicant to continue coordinating final parking layout and fence design with staff to preserve tenant access and neighborhood safety.