Site plan approval clears way for new apartment complex
The plans for the 64-unit complex show four buildings with garages to the north and south. The developers have the goal to have the first building open by October with the others to follow about every six weeks after that.
If things go according to plan, by next fall the first units in a planned apartment complex on Medford’s south side will be ready to rent.
Members of the Medford city council and planning commission made quick work Monday night approving the site plan for the proposed 64-unit apartment complex that will be located near the intersection of CTH O and Pep’s Drive.
The project is being developed by Green Bay-based FORE in partnership with the Medford Area Development Foundation in response to area industry and business leaders citing lack of adequate housing as a major concern for maintaining and expanding employment in the community.
City zoning codes require a site plan approval for projects of this type with review by both the planning commission and the city council, both of which took place on Monday night.
City coordinator Joe Harris said the project and landscape plans meet the city’s requirements. “I think it looks pretty nice,” Harris said.
The complex will feature four twostory, 16-unit apartment buildings in the center portion of the lot surrounded by parking and garages to the north and south.
Harris said the developers are on an aggressive schedule wanting to break ground this spring when the weather straightens out. The plans call for the first building to be ready for occupancy by October with the other buildings opening up every six weeks following that.
“The best scenario is by fall we will have some up and people in them,” said mayor Mike Wellner.
Harris noted the company, which has experience building similar projects in other communities, has prepurchased and warehoused much of the building materials which should help avoid supply chain issues. He said that County Concrete is already at work constructing manholes that will be used for water and sewer access.
The Pep’s Drive project is just one housing initiative being pushed to alleviate housing shortages in the city. The city is waiting on word about the status of a grant for a workforce housing project to be located north of the Northcentral Technical College campus on Progressive Ave. “We won’t know if they got the grant until May,” Harris said when questioned about the status of that project.
