Plan commission approves $178,000 facade renovation at 101 South Main Street

The West Bend Plan Commission voted to approve site plan SP 26-00019, permitting facade and rear-building renovations at 101 South Main Street by property owner Gregory Schumann. John (staff) told the commission the work would add upper-level windows, a balcony, a retractable awning and a possible modification to the first-floor door.

"This particular project is estimated to be around, about a $178,000," John said, and he told commissioners the project already received a $20,000 facade grant from the Downtown Business Improvement District. Staff recommended approval with three conditions, John said: the design must meet downtown guidelines, the applicant must verify whether a special flood door is necessary because the property lies within the floodplain, and any easement and agreement over the city-owned Riverwalk must be addressed prior to issuing building permits.

Chair Matt Sterning moved the item up on the agenda so the applicant could leave early; a motion to approve the site plan passed by voice vote. The commission recorded no roll-call vote in the hearing record and carried the motion by unanimous "aye" calls from those present.

Why it matters: The project is located inside the city's downtown Business Improvement District and must comply with the downtown master plan and design standards. The commission's conditions require technical checks and a resolution of rights over the Riverwalk property before permits can be issued, which could affect the permitting timeline.

The city will not issue building permits until the applicant verifies flood door requirements and the Riverwalk easement/agreement is resolved, per the staff conditions.