The Village of Withee Planning Commission met on Tuesday, July 28 to discuss a request from Forward Bank for rezoning to three lots on First Street from R-1 Single Family Residential to R-2 Multi-Family Residential.
Dave Krause from Forward Bank said they would like to build a couple of duplexes. They plan to build on the west lot first and hope to have that duplex completed by sometime this fall. The long-range goal would be that one of the renters might wish to purchase the duplex, live on one side and rent the other side out.
On the other two lots, which are narrow, they are looking at building a standard duplex on a slab that will straddle the lot line and may end up being a twin home, which would allow them to sell each side separately. Each side would have a detached garage. There is a mound on these lots and the bank needs to know what is buried there. It is probably material from the buildings that originally were on the lots and have since been torn down.
Krause said the rent would probably be just under $1,000 for the two bedroom side of the duplex and around $1,200 for the three bedroom. He said they will probably start with a granite driveway with a concrete approach to the garage. They are also looking at locating the structures so that they will have a small backyard with a larger front yard. They also plan to do some landscaping.
Sandi Petke, whose home will be next to the first duplex asked about how far it would be built from the lot line. Krause said 20-25 feet.
The Planning Commission voted to forward the recommendation to change the zoning to the village board. A hearing on the change will be held on Monday, August 10 at 6:15 p.m. prior to the regular board meeting.