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Plan Commission Minutes March 2, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers Commission Members Present: Brewster, Davis, Erickson, Helgeson, Holzman, Lawson, Lenard, Reed, Zeug Staff Members Present: Lee, Lubke, Newkirk, Noel, Petrie, White Community Present: 1. Call to Order – Chairperson Helgeson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call – Chairperson Helgeson called roll for the meeting with a quorum present of nine members in attendance. 3. Open public comment period for items not on the agenda noted as public hearings. No one present spoke during the public comment period. Consent Agenda 4. A. Approval of February 2, 2026 Plan Commission minutes B. Cypress Street Utility Easement C. Hwy 12/Hwy 312/North Crossing, SCS Underground Electrical Easement D. Folsom Street Trail Head Gas Easement, Roosevelt Elementary E. Bellinger & Mappa CSM with Alley Way Dedication F. Lake Hallie Recreational Trail Excess Land G. Music Way Temporary Easement, Border State Construction H. Mill Meadows West Utility Easement I. Riverside Deck CSM Easement Commissioner Brewster moved to approve the consent agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Reed and the motion carried unanimously. Regular Agenda 5. Rezoning (Z-1762-26) – Land Development Ordinance (LDO) o To recommend amendments to the LDO, Title 17 related to heavy vehicle parking in residential zoning o To recommend amendments in Title 10, on vehicle weights Applicant: City of Eau Claire Location: City Wide Noel presented an update to the land development ordinance in regard to heavy vehicle parking in residential zoning and an amendment in Title 10, on vehicle weights. He noted with larger commercial vehicles the resident health and quality of life issues that could undermine residential zoned districts. He noted the standards to be considered if a conditional use permit was an option that the Plan Commission would need to use. No one from the public spoke during the hearing. Zeug noted large pickup trucks can be 10,000 pounds in total weight. Concern was noted about the types of vehicles and large dump trucks, semi-trucks which should not be allowed within residential zoning. Davis questioned the weights of single axis work truck compared to the state of Wisconsin 16,001 pounds weight which requires the license plate changes. He noted that some individuals Plan Commission Meeting March 2, 2026 Page 2 should be allowed within the residential zoning and more needs to be discussed. He noted idling is required and could be an issue within a residential area. Commissioner Holzman noted that the proposed ordinance to allow for the conditional use permit would require Plan Commission review. Commissioner Brewster moved to recommend the amendments to the LDO, Title 17 related to heavy vehicle parking in residential zoning with staff recommendations. Also, to move to amendment in Title 10, on vehicle weights. Seconded by Commissioner Erickson. Brewster noted the residential zoning for the conditional use permit and the neighborhood should determine if the heavy vehicle is appropriate. Erickson was concerned about the existing residential streets and the amount of weight allowed or proposed to be allowed. A conditional use permit would not address this issue. Davis noted weight limits for municipalities and road bans at any time throughout the year. A conditional use permit could be an option for heavier vehicles, but the standards are restrictive. Commissioner Brewster moved to postpone this agenda item to the next Plan Commission meeting, because he noted more information is needed in regard to the weight, in particular on 16,001 pounds rather than the proposed 10,000 pounds, and the license plate standards for the State of Wisconsin. Seconded by Davis. The postponement vote 8-1 (Helgeson nay). 6. Site Plan (SP-2601) – Mayo Clinic Health System Emergency Department Expansion Request: To review and approve the site plan for Mayo Clinic expansion Applicant: Mayo Clinic Health System, Wendel & Ayres Location: 1400 Bellinger Street Petrie presented the site plan for Mayo Clinic Health System Emergency Department Expansion located at 1400 Bellinger Street. The site plan shows a new 10,000 square feet for the expansion of the Emergency Department. The building will be two stories in height and the façade will match the existing campus materials. A potential two additional stories as future expansion is proposed. The net loss of parking spaces is indicated on the site plan as ten removed. Ramsey with Ayres Associates, stated Mayo Clinic does not have construction plans to block the street along Bellinger Street, but will use the existing parking lot area for construction materials. Commissioner Lenard moved to approve the site plan for Mayo Clinic expansion. Seconded by Commissioner Brewster and the motion carried (8-0 Davis abstained). 7. Plank Street Hill Park Master Plan Request: To recommend the Plank Street Hill Park Master Plan Applicant: City of Eau Claire Location: Plank Street Hill Park Newkirk presented the Plank Street Hill Park Master Plan with changes to the concept plans and the master plan. The Waterways and Parks Commission moved to recommended approval of the master plan. Silewski with Ayres Associates noted the process of developing the master plan for the Plank Street Hill Park. He shared community feedback over the past two years from East Hill Plan Commission Meeting March 2, 2026 Page 3 neighborhood and Waterways and Parks to see what the community would like to see for the park. In addition, goals for the project and future timeframe for a variety of improvements will be determined by staff and Council. This item will be on the Council’s March 10th meeting. Commissioner Erickson moved to recommend the Plank Street Hill Park Master Plan to City Council. Seconded by Commissioner Reed and the motion carried unanimously. 8. Discussion Item – 2025 Development Report Petrie presented the annual 2025 development report, noting this was the fourth best construction valuation year the city has had. He noted that the residential was the highest valuation in terms of construction this past year. The commission members asked some questions regarding the data and information. 9. Future Agenda Items and Announcements Petrie noted the next Plan Commission meeting is on April 6th and this will be Commissioners Davis and Helgesons last meeting. 10. Adjournment The commission adjourned at 7:38 p.m. _________________________ Tim Davis, Secretary