Plan Commission Meeting — Minutes

July 20, 2026 Plan Commission Minutes 1 City Of Lake Geneva Plan Commission Minutes Monday, July 20, 2026 - 6:00 PM Lake Geneva City Hall; Council Chambers Meeting Called to Order – Mayor Todd Krause Mayor Krause called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. Roll Call Present: Krause, Powers, Nafziger, Esarco, Skates, Gibbs Absent: Cary Approve Minutes of the June 15, 2026 Plan Commission meeting as distributed. Motion by Powers to approve; second by Skates. Motion carried: 6-0 Comments from the public as allowed by Wis. Stats. §19.84(2), limited to items on this agenda, except for public hearing items. Comments will be limited to five (5) minutes. Public comment: None. Acknowledgment of Correspondence Correspondence was received and distributed to the Plan Commission members. Downtown Design Review: Discussion/Action on Resolution PC-2026-006 for Downtown Design Review application for new signage at 300 Wrigley Dr, filed by Jordan Himmel, 6228 N Broadway, Chicago, IL, Tax Key No. ZHC00303. 300 Wrigley Drive – Signage Approval: Jordan Himmel requested approval for two 20-square-foot signs on balcony railings. Staff noted the atypical placement but confirmed compliance with color guidelines. Motion by Skates, seconded by Powers, to approve the application with the condition that proper permits are obtained prior to installation. Motion carried 6-0 Discussion/Action on Resolution PC-2026-026 for Downtown Design Review application for a sandwich board sign at 812 W Main Street, filed by Jean Doliber and Kathy Dennen, 812 W Main Street, Lake Geneva, WI, Tax Key No. ZOP00332. 812 West Main Street – Sandwich Board Sign: An application for a sandwich board sign at 812 West Main Street was reviewed. Motion by Skates, seconded by Powers, to approve the application. Motion carried 6-0 Discussion/Action on Resolution PC-2026-041 for Downtown Design Review application for new signage at 703 W Main Street, filed by Valera Smokvin, POB 130, Grafton, WI, Tax Key No. ZA276000001. 703 West Main Street – Downtown Design Review (Signage): The Commission considered a downtown design review application for new signage for a chocolate factory/sandwich shop at 703 West Main Street. Motion by Skates, seconded by Powers, to approve the downtown design review application. Motion carried 6-0. Land Division Discussion/Action on Resolution PC-2026-038 for application for Lot Line Adjustment at N1741 Highway 120, filed by Nicholas Egert, 835 Geneva Parkway, Suite 1, Lake Geneva, WI, Tax Key Nos. ZYUP 00197 and ZA427700001. Lot Line Adjustment – Horseshoe Hunt Club / Kelly Parcel: The Commission considered a lot line adjustment application to transfer property between the Horseshoe Hunt Club and the Kelly parcel. Motion by Skates, seconded by Esarco, to approve the lot line adjustment. Motion carried 6-0. Public Hearing, Review, and Recommendation July 20, 2026 Plan Commission Minutes 2 Public Hearing for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow a commercial apartment and façade renovations at 736-738 Main St filed by Stebnitz Builders, Inc, 204 Commerce Ct #3, Elkhorn, WI, Tax Key No. ZOP00315 and ZOP00316. Chair opened the public hearing regarding a Conditional Use Permit to allow commercial apartments and facade renovations at 736 and 738 Main Street. The applicant noted the intent to keep two distinct first-floor storefronts while unifying the overall exterior facade. • Public Comment: Peg Esposito (124 Darwin Street) addressed the Commission regarding ADA accessibility standards and DarkSky program guidelines. • Action: Motion by Esarco, seconded by Powers, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. Discussion/Action on Resolution PC-2026-035 recommending approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow a commercial apartment and façade renovations at 736-738 Main St filed by Stebnitz Builders, Inc, 204 Commerce Ct #3, Elkhorn, WI, Tax Key No. ZOP00315 and ZOP00316. Jeff Alberger of Stebnitz Builders presented plans featuring front/rear facade updates, a navy and white building color palette, parking additions, a dumpster enclosure, and a rooftop viewing terrace. • Commission Discussion: Addressed potential trash issues with flower boxes, building security access for upper levels, and privacy fencing requirements around the stairway. • Action: Motion by Skates, seconded by Esarco, to approve the Conditional Use Permit application allowing commercial apartment renovations at 736 and 738 West Main Street. Motion carried 6-0. Public Hearing for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow an Indoor Entertainment Operation (Wedding Venue) at 625 S Wells St filed by Carrie Douglass, 289 Indian Bend Rd, Burlington, WI, Tax Key No. ZOP00398. Chair opened the public hearing for an indoor wedding venue at 625 South Wall Street. • Proposal Details: The venue proposes a maximum occupancy of 108 people, restricted by available parking. Staff noted that despite a Fire Department building approval capacity of 300, final occupancy is limited by parking availability (currently 30 spaces, with 37 additional spaces to be added). • Public Comment: None. • Action: Motion by Esarco, seconded by Powers, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. Discussion/Action on Resolution PC-2026-037 recommending approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) ) to allow an Indoor Entertainment Operation (Wedding Venue) at 625 S Wells St filed by Carrie Douglass, 289 Indian Bend Rd, Burlington, WI, Tax Key No. ZOP00398. The Commission considered a Conditional Use Permit request to establish an indoor entertainment facility and wedding venue at 625 South Wall Street. Motion by Skates, seconded by Escaro, to approve the Conditional Use Permit with the condition that site plan review approval and all required permits are secured prior to construction. Motion carried 6-0. Public Hearing for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow reconstruction of a single family dwelling within the Estate Residential-1 (ER-1) zoning district in compliance with the Single Family Residential-4 (SR-4) requirement for the property located at 1626 Evergreen Lane, filed by Desmond Wahlfeld, 323 Broad Street #102, Lake Geneva, WI, Tax Key No. ZLM00016. Chair opened the public hearing for the reconstruction of a single-family dwelling to meet SR-4 zoning standards at 1626 Evergreen Lane. • Staff Recommendation: Approval, subject to resolving engineering questions regarding stormwater management. July 20, 2026 Plan Commission Minutes 3 • Public Comment: Dan Lites (1633 S. Lake Shore Dr.) raised concerns about surface water runoff, drainage, rain garden performance, and potential impacts on adjacent properties. • Action: Motion by Skates, seconded by Escaro, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. Discussion/Action on Resolution PC-2026-032 recommending approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) ) to allow reconstruction of a single family dwelling within the Estate Residential-1 (ER-1) zoning district in compliance with the Single Family Residential-4 (SR-4) requirement for the property located at 1626 Evergreen Lane, filed by Desmond Wahlfeld, 323 Broad Street #102, Lake Geneva, WI, Tax Key No. ZLM00016. The Commission considered a Conditional Use Permit application for single-family dwelling reconstruction at 1626 Evergreen Lane. Motion by Escaro, seconded by Powers, to approve the Conditional Use Permit. Motion carried 6-0. Public Hearing for a Planned Development (Precise Implementation Plan) to allow the construction of a single-family residential structure in the PD Planned Development zoning district at 630 S Lake Shore Drive filed by Tess Komas, 640 N Vel R Phillips, Suite 210, Milwaukee, WI, tax Key No. ZA 315600002. Chair opened the public hearing for a single-family residential Planned Development at 630 South Lakeshore Drive. • Proposal Details: Tess Comas and Matthew Stafford (Abacus Architects) and members of the Colbert family presented plans for a two-story home, attached and detached garages, lakeside patio, pool, and site features. Driveway width concerns were addressed via a designated fire lane and turnaround. • Staff Recommendation: Approval of the Precise Implementation Plan (PIP) conditioned upon a perpetual public access easement for the shore path, proper stormwater management, and Fire Department approval. • Action: Motion by Esarco, seconded by Powers, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. Discussion/Action on Resolution PC-2026-030 recommending approval of a Planned Development (Precise Implementation Plan) to allow the construction of a single-family residential structure in the PD Planned Development zoning district at 630 S Lake Shore Drive filed by Tess Komas, 640 N Vel R Phillips, Suite 210, Milwaukee, WI, tax Key No. ZA 315600002. The Commission considered a Planned Development application for a single-family residential structure at 630 South Lakeshore Drive. Motion by Skates, seconded by Esarco, to approve the application, subject to permit requirements and a public access easement. Motion carried 6-0. Public Hearing for a Planned Development (General Development Plan) to allow the construction of a commercial structure in the PD Planned Development zoning district at 140 Broad St., filed by Pacific Property Holdings, LLC, 672 W Main St #1136, Lake Geneva, WI, Tax Key No. ZOP00331. Chair opened the public hearing regarding a Planned Development for a proposed two-story building at 140 Broad Street to house Otty's restaurant and the Mashtun Brewing taproom. • Public Comment: None. • Action: Motion by Gibbs, seconded by Skates, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. Discussion/Action on Resolution PC-2026-034 recommending approval of a Planned Development (General Development Plan) t to allow the construction of a commercial structure in the PD Planned Development zoning district at 140 Broad St., filed by Pacific Property Holdings, LLC, 672 W Main St #1136, Lake Geneva, WI, Tax Key No. ZOP00331. July 20, 2026 Plan Commission Minutes 4 The Commission considered a Planned Development application for a new two-story building at 140 Broad Street for Otty's restaurant and Mashtun Brewing's taproom. Motion by Escaro, seconded by Krause, to approve the Planned Development with conditions including substantial compliance with presented plans, a two-year expiration for the General Development Plan (GDP), and a required traffic management plan. Motion carried 6-0. Public Hearing for a Planned Development (General Development Plan) to allow the construction of a mixed-use development in the PD Planned Development zoning district along Sheridan Springs Rd, filed by Simple Food Group LLC, 525 Broad St, Lake Geneva, WI, Tax Key No. ZA467900001, ZA467900002, ZA468000001, and ZA468000002. Chair opened the public hearing for a mixed-use development proposal along Sheridan Springs Road by Simple Food Group. • Staff Recommendation: Approval, subject to conditions including a two-year implementation plan and further traffic impact analysis. • Public Comment: None. • Action: Motion by Escaro, seconded by Powers, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. Discussion/Action on Resolution PC-2026-036 recommending approval of a Planned Development (General Development Plan) to allow the construction of a mixed-use development in the PD Planned Development zoning district along Sheridan Springs Rd, filed by Simple Food Group LLC, 525 Broad St, Lake Geneva, WI, Tax Key No. ZA467900001, ZA467900002, ZA468000001, and ZA468000002. The Commission reviewed a General Development Plan (GDP) for Simple Food Group’s 11-acre culinary campus. Tom Hartz and Young Cho, alongside representatives from Continuum Architects & Planning, Psyche Design, and Bolton & Menk, presented plans for a bakery, coffee shop, market, event space, and educational facilities designed to meet Comprehensive Plan standards. • Action: Motion by Skates, seconded by Krause, to approve the General Development Plan (GDP) with conditions including sidewalk extension to the west lot line, completion of a traffic study, adherence to stormwater quality and quantity standards, and submittal of a Precise Implementation Plan (PIP) within two years. Motion carried 6-0. Adjournment Motion by Powers, seconded by Krause, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.