Commission approves annexations along Hwy 13

Members of the Medford Planning Commission on Monday cleared the way for additional commercial growth along the Hwy 13 corridor in the city.

Members approved the annexation request for two parcels located on the east side of Hwy 13. The two properties, total about six acres in size and are currently owned by Ken Sova and by Scott Mildbrand and Amy Blasel.

According to city planner Bob Christensen, the owners of the Mildbrand/ Blasel parcel had approached the city about annexing it in order to get access to city water and sewer utilities for future commercial development of the site. However, Christensen said that this would have left the Sova property as being a town island, something that is not allowed under state laws.

Christensen told commission members that Sova ultimately agreed to file an annexation petition with the 1.67 acre parcel at 1210 N. 8th St. to come into the city as R-1 single family residential zone.

This raised questions for commission member Luke Dixon since an insurance business is already located in the building on the property.

According to Christensen, Sova told him he plans to retire eventually and at that time would convert the office back into being a single family home. Until such time as that would occur, if ever, the property would come into the city with the R-1 classification but with the current existing use of the insurance office. It was noted if a future owner wished to do something different with the parcel a rezoning request could be made at that time.

The Mildbrand/Blasel parcel at 1260 N. 8th St. requested coming into the city as C-1 commercial. Christensen said the house on the property will remain, at least for now, with a renter remaining living there.

Commission members gave their approval to the annexation requests.

Comprehensive Planning

The city of Medford is taking the first steps forward in rewriting its comprehensive planning document. At Monday’s commission meeting, members approved the public participation plan for the review of the city’s comprehensive plan.

Prior to taking action, commission members listened to a presentation from Laurie Miller and Brea Grace who are senior community development specialists with the engineer firm SEH who the city contracted with to redo the comprehensive plan.

In 2000, Wisconsin required all municipalities who have zoning or subdivision codes to have a comprehensive plan in place that says why those codes are in place. The plans are required for zoning enforcement as well as to qualify for some state grant programs.

The city tapped into a broad group of volunteers to create its existing plan. “At the time we had a lot of volunteers,” said Mayor Mike Wellner.

The leading reason to hire SEH to work on the plan update, is over concerns there would not be the same level of volunteer support.

“We would never get that turnout of volunteers today,” Wellner said, noting there were cross sections of the community from people in their 20s to their 70s.

“I think it came out pretty decent in the end,” said commission member Dave Zimmerman who was among those who helped create the city’s plan.

“It was impressive,” Miller said, complimenting the city on the scope and goals of its current plan.

She highlighted that a number of the goals set forward in that plan, such as increasing the community’s housing base, retail and improving the downtown have been achieved. The city’s current plan expires in 2028.

The intent of the new plan would be to set goals for the city for the next 20 years. She noted this could be looking at more diversity with housing types, more specific areas that would be transitional, and community resiliency.

She said they also look at the values and visions of community members, something that is done through focused surveys, listening sessions and meeting with business and community leaders.

Throughout the planning process there will be multiple opportunities for community engagement with a public hearing on the plan before it ultimately goes to the city council for approval.

Miller said they would want to be done with the plan by March 2025.

One of the first opportunities people will have to give their input on the planning process and where they would like to see Medford work toward in the future will be at the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce Home and Business Expo on March 22-24. They plan to have a booth at the Expo to share and collect information.

Mildbrand/Blasel Parcel Sova Parcel