Hearing planned on new residential facility for seniors

By Adam Tobias of the Daily Times staff
Tuesday, February 13, 2007 1:55 PM CST

The Watertown Plan Commission Monday set a public hearing in March for the request of the Lutheran Home Association to combine two properties on Welsh Road and build a community based residential facility for seniors.

Along with combining the lots at 700 and 700R Welsh Road, the Lutheran Home Association is looking to rezone the entire parcel from rural holding to senior residential. The zoning change would allow the company to attach the community based residential facility to the existing Heritage Homes Senior Apartments.

In May of last year the Watertown Common Council approved a 12-month moratorium for all new building construction on certain areas along Welsh Road because of storm water issues, but representatives from the Lutheran Home Association said the new building would not create more storm water problems.

The representatives said initial engineering plans show the new facility would be on top of a hill and most of the storm water would drain to the west, away from the current problem areas.

Construction of the new facility is expected to start sometime in September, which is after the expiration date of the 12-month moratorium. City Engineer Joe Radocay said work on the storm water issues could also be completed by that time.

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The public hearing will be held during the Common Council meeting on March 6.

In other action Monday, members of the Plan Commission recommended approval of two changes to the city's zoning code. The amendments would make space for more hangars at the local airport and shorten the time it takes to obtain a conditional use permit.

Under the current zoning code hangars are supposed to be constructed at least 30 feet apart from each other and 15 feet from each lot line, but the alteration would allow the structures to be 20 feet apart and 10 feet from each lot line.

The other modification to the zoning code would give the Building, Safety and Zoning office the authority to set a public hearing for a conditional use permit, which Plan Commissioner Ron Krueger said will reduce the time it takes for the hearing to be arranged by two weeks.

Under the current code when a person applies for a conditional use permit through the city's Building, Safety and Zoning office, the request goes in front of the Plan Commission where members set a date for a public hearing.

Members of the Plan Commission granted a conditional use permit to Tim McGuire, who is planning to open a Crusty Pizza restaurant in the Cenex gas station and convenience store on North Church Street.

As a condition of the permit, McGuire will only be allowed to have customers dine-in when the Cenex is open, which is Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. McGuire must keep these hours because his customers would use the bathrooms in the Cenex portion of the building.

However, McGuire will be allowed to keep his business open when Cenex is closed when he is only offering a carry-out service. McGuire can use his carry-out service from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

McGuire said the Crusty Pizza in Watertown would be the first in the state.

Plan commissioners also put their support behind phase II of River View Estates off of River Drive in the township of Watertown. The property includes 14 lots for single-family homes.

A request to adjust the lot lines for three vacant parcels at 306 East Haven Drive was approved by the Plan Commission. The lot line modification will create more buildable lots for the construction of duplexes, said Radocay.