Use permit for store is delayed

By Adam Tobias of the Daily Times staff
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 1:04 PM CDT

The Watertown Plan Commission Monday tabled granting a conditional use permit to the Piggly Wiggly grocery store on Memorial Drive for outdoor sales until the business gets approval from the owners of the property.

Piggly Wiggly is requesting to build a brat stand at the front of the store and use a section of the parking lot for various outdoor sales, but the conditional use permit cannot be approved until Robin Watertown LLC and S&L Holding LLC, the owners of the parcel, co-sign the application.

“We essentially have to have proof that the property owners are in favor of the proposal,” city Planner Mike Slavney said.

According to Piggly Wiggly co-owner Jeff Tate, the brat stand would be used for fund-raisers by nonprofit organizations, including churches, schools and athletic groups. Tate said the store is also looking to install permanent seating near the brat stand.

The hours of operation for the stand would be during the day, when traffic at the store is the highest, Tate added.

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The grocery store is also looking to use a section of the parking lot for sales including Christmas trees, hot tubs, produce, seafood and pumpkins. The grocery store owners would like to use the parking lot for future promotions that would include music and small rides.

The plan commission expects to act on the Piggly Wiggly conditional use permit at its next meeting in two weeks.

In other action Monday, members of the plan commission granted a conditional use permit to John Riedl for interior alterations to 805 Elm St. Riedl is proposing to partition off approximately 3,600 square feet in the southwest corner of the building for a wood finishing and staining business.

The public hearing on the matter was held on March 10, but a decision on the permit was tabled because further information on safety issues was needed.

According to Jeff Kossman of JK Architecture and Engineering, the wood finishing and staining section would be enclosed by fire separation walls and have a heating and ventilating system. The room would also have a full sprinkler system.

The machine that would be used by the business would have a self-ventilation unit, Kossman added.

Approximately 40 residents who live near the building signed a petition because they are concerned about the fumes that would be generated by the business, but some of the people who spoke at the meeting said they would not oppose the project if there were no safety issues.

“I am really concerned about those fumes,” said Delores Herold, who lives on Union Street. “We are in a valley down there and the fumes will come right down the valley.

“We have a very nice neighborhood and the only concern I have is fumes and noise,” she added. “If those concerns are taken care of then I don't care.”

Kossman said if fumes do happen to escape the building and it becomes a problem with the neighbors an additional ventilation system can be added.

“If there are continued concerns and it is felt that it's not satisfactory, an additional measure can be applied,” Kossman said.

If the fumes become a nuisance for those living near the business, the city does have the right to revoke the conditional use permit, Slavney said.

“A conditional use permit can be revoked by the city if the conditions of operation cannot be complied with,” he added.

Plan commission members also granted a conditional use permit to Jeff Schoechert for two buildings with a total of 104 miniature storage units at N1086 Highway 26 in the town of Emmet.

The public hearing for the conditional use permit was held in August 2007 but the proposal was sent to the site plan review committee for further examination. That committee approved the request under the condition that the designer provide storm water calculations and plans showing drainage, on-site storage and exterior lighting with cutoff lenses. Those conditions have since been addressed.

Schoechert is also required to pave the appropriate areas with blacktop within one year of occupancy.

A conditional use permit for indoor commercial entertainment was granted to Evie Feutz, who is looking to open a fitness center at 106 Stimpson St. The fitness center will also offer dancing lessons, Feutz said.

The maximum hours the business can stay open are Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Plan commission members also recommended approval for a lease for a proposed 3,600-square-foot hangar on Taxiway C at the municipal airport.

The commission made the recommendation under the condition that the exterior of the hangar be white in color. The city is making it a priority to ensure all of the hangars at the airport are the same color.

The term of the lease will be for 20 years, with two additional five-year options. Sunrise Building Systems, which owns the proposed hangar, will be required to pay an annual rent of $704.

The lease has also been reviewed by the airport commission, public works commission and site plan review committee.

The plan commission recommended approval for the lease under the condition a certified survey map with legal descriptions is submitted to the city.