Damakant Jayshi

Plans for a monolith dome house in Wausau are moving forward after the Plan Commission on Tuesday overturned the city zoning administrator’s decision to disallow its construction.

The petitioner appealed the ruling after Wausau Chief Inspector and Zoning Administrator William Hebert said the exterior design of the home did not meet existing standards. Neighbors within 100 feet of the vacant lot, in the 4300 block of Riverview Drive, were notified about the public hearing but no comments were received.

During the public hearing, petitioner Breanne Kraft said she has been wanting to build a dome house since she first discovered them 20 years ago. She added such homes are quick to build, energy efficient, durable and strong. They survive fires, hurricanes and tornadoes.

“With my design, I tried to make it look like as normal a house as possible,” Kraft said. “I think they really look unique.”

After the public hearing, Hebert said he should have included the “variance” to the standards in his report and they should be considered in the petitioner’s request. He read those five points: that the variance will not be contrary to the public interest; that substantial justice will be done by granting the variance; that the variance is needed so that the spirit of the ordinance is observed; that a literal enforcement of the provisions of the zoning ordinance will result in unnecessary hardship; and that the variance will not allow any alteration of an historic structure. The last point is moot, Hebert said, because it would be built on a vacant lot.

Commissioner Andrew Brueggeman asked Hebert when the specific zoning code was adopted and said he has seen dome homes in Wausau that appeared to have been constructed on infill lots.

Hebert said the specific codes came into effect in January 2020. Until then, the city didn’t have exterior design standards for residential properties, he added. “So this is new.”

The commissioners voted, 3-1, to reverse the zoning administrator’s determination. It was not clear during the voice vote who voted against the reversal.

The matter is final and does not require a City Council vote.