News

Jul 29, 2023

Condo Complex Swapped for Eight Storage Units

By Kevin Boneske, August 4th, 2023 Plans to build a three-story, 22-unit apartment building at 1361 N. 14th Ave. – the site of a former cherry-processing facility near Tadych’s Marketplace and Walmart

By Kevin Boneske, August 4th, 2023

Plans to build a three-story, 22-unit apartment building at 1361 N. 14th Ave. – the site of a former cherry-processing facility near Tadych’s Marketplace and Walmart in Sturgeon Bay – now include an additional two-story, eight-unit condominium building.

Estes Investments, which previously received city approval to build the apartment building fronting 14th Avenue, also planned to build 12 commercial storage buildings in the rear. The company now wants to construct the condominium building instead of eight of the storage buildings.

The city’s Plan Commission reviewed those conceptual changes during its July 19 meeting, when it agreed to consider final approval of a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for the project during its August meeting.

The eastern portion of the property where the three-story apartment building is planned is currently zoned Multifamily Residential (R-4), while the area to the west previously designated for the storage buildings is zoned General Commercial (C-1).

Dave Phillips of Bayland Buildings, representing the project on behalf of Jason and Steve Estes, spoke before the commission about the proposed changes, for which a PUD would allow a higher residential density than the current zoning on the site.

Phillips said parking is planned beneath the 22-unit apartment building “because the lot allows it to work very, very well,” but not under the eight-unit condominium building to the west.

He said four commercial storage buildings are still planned on the north side of the property, and another storage building constructed behind the apartment building would be for residents who want additional storage.

Phillips said the condominium building, containing units that would be sold, would take up a smaller footprint than eight storage buildings.

District 4 alderman Spencer Gustafson, a commission member, said, “I absolutely love the idea of putting more housing on the property than the storage units. I think it’s a great project overall.”

Mayor David Ward, who chairs the commission, said he would rather see housing being built in the city than storage units.

“I don’t know how many more storage units the world can handle, but this is a nice alternative to that,” he said.

Community development director Marty Olejniczak said it’s “not uncommon” for a housing development seeking to exceed the maximum residential density for the existing zoning.

“They’re basically asking, ‘Can we have three units above what the zoning would normally allow?’” he said. “We’re not talking a huge jump here, but it does exceed typical density.”

Phillips said it is more cost effective to build an eight-unit condominium building than one with five units that wouldn’t exceed the site’s current maximum residential density.

“We do feel this is the right way to go, and it gives us housing at a cheaper cost,” he said.

The Common Council previously approved a development agreement with Estes Investments for the apartment project that included extending sewer and water north along 14th Avenue to the property.

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