By Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU — Some residents in the far west side Morgan Creek neighborhood are circulating a petition against a proposed zoning change that would allow for a new apartment complex in the area.
A number of residents have contacted Wausau Pilot & Review after receiving a notice from the city that a portion of the area could be rezoned from a single family residence district to a unified development district. The letter also refers to a plan to for single family and multi-family residential development.
A public hearing will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Wausau City Hall in the council chambers, according to the letter. If the proposal is approved, the full council is expected to finalize the plan during its Sept. 12 meeting.
Rezoning would allow for a plan by S.C. Swiderski to build a multi-family residential complex north of Morgan Creek, residents said, though so far, no details have appeared on an agenda or in a city committee packet. Additional information is expected to be included in the packet for the plan commission meeting one week prior to Aug. 15.
On the Morgan Creek Neighborhood public Facebook page, several residents have spoken out against the plan and are circulating copies of the letter.
Joseph Wendorf, a resident new to the neighborhood, posted a comment urging the neighborhood to fight back against the plan.
“I don’t need another 400 plus people living in this nice hidden gem creating all the extra traffic on our streets,” Wendorf wrote. “I enjoy taking my daughter on walks around the neighborhood with very limited vehicle traffic.”
Alderman Joe Gehin, who represents the Morgan Creek neighborhood in the 9th District, told Wausau Pilot & Review he had heard about the proposal but didn’t have any solid information about the project. He also said no residents have contacted him about the proposal.
Residents with questions about the rezoning request are asked to call Zoning Administrator Bill Hebert at 715-261-6783 or City Planner Brad Lenz at 715-261-6753. Public comment will be allowed at the hearing, and written comments can be submitted to Mayor Robert Mielke, according to the letter.
