Plan Commission Meeting: Review of 2024 Annual Development Report - June 10, 2025

The Plan Commission met on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM in the Council Chambers at Altoona City Hall. The meeting focused on the 2024 Annual Development Report presented by Planning Director Taylor Greenwell, which covered population growth, residential permits, property values, completed and in-progress projects, and future planning initiatives. The commission also heard a brief announcement about a federal grant for a new fire station.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes of the May 13, 2025 regular Plan Commission meeting were approved unanimously via motion and second.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made; the Citizen Participation Period was closed via motion.

Discussion Items

• 2024 Annual Development Report – Planning Director Taylor Greenwell presented key statistics:
  • Population grew by 307 residents to 9,627 (a 0.29% increase), approaching the 10,000 mark which would reclassify Altoona from a fourth-class to a third-class city, doubling extraterritorial jurisdiction to three miles.
  • Altoona comprises 8.68% of Eau Claire County's total population but accounts for 25.85% of the county's population growth since 2020.
  • 46 residential permits were issued in 2024 for 86 dwelling units with a total valuation of $20.9 million. The majority of units were from duplexes, followed by multifamily, single-family (8 units), and manufactured homes (10 units).
  • The median valuation for single-family homes was $365,000.
  • Equalized value increased from $86 million in 2020 to $1.3 billion in 2024 (a 63% change), with residential property at 55.23% and commercial at 42.87% of the city's valuation.
  • Completed projects in 2024 included the Candy Loft Building (5 dwelling units, 2 commercial tenants), the Sabani mixed-use building (18 residential units and 4 commercial), and Otter Creek Landing (18 units fully occupied).
  • In-progress and upcoming projects: Container Park launch; Hillcrest Greens phase 3 (two lots remaining); White Tail Woods (first phase permits pending); Bartlett Crossing (75% complete); River Prairie Townhomes phase 2 redesign (will require new approval); 80 acres on the east side (RFP for master developer unsuccessful but new proposals received); comprehensive code update (75% complete).
• Parking Concern – A commission member raised a concern about lack of on-street parking on Lake Road near new townhomes, noting that residents are parking on grass and narrow roads. The member suggested that the comprehensive code update should consider the availability of alternative parking in the vicinity when setting minimum parking requirements. Planning Director Greenwell agreed to review this as part of the development standards section.
• Affordable Housing Fund – Greenwell reported that the TID closure yielded $6.45 million for an affordable housing fund. The fund is intended to be a long-term, sustainable source, with 75% required to be used for affordable housing and 25% for general housing. Discussion included using interest only to recharge the fund, and leveraging the fund for future grants. The fund is flexible and will be designed over time, with council direction.
• Citywide Official Map – The planning department is developing a citywide official map to implement long-term plans for infrastructure, trails, parks, etc. This tool will allow the city to require future development to incorporate planned facilities without negotiating each time. Parts of the city are already officially mapped, but a citywide version is needed as called for in the comprehensive plan.
• Boundary Agreement with Town of Washington – The city is actively in discussions with the Town of Washington to establish a boundary agreement to coordinate annexations, infrastructure growth, and development planning, reducing conflict and surprises. Several meetings have been held, and both parties are on board.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken on the report or discussed items; the report was received for informational purposes.
• The commission will consider adjusting parking requirements in the comprehensive code update based on the parking concern raised.
• The affordable housing fund design will continue with council input.
• The citywide official map and boundary agreement efforts will proceed.
• Fire Station Grant Announcement – Commission member announced that the city applied for a $13 million federal grant for a new fire station and was selected to move to the next level in the appropriations process, with a potential award of $7 million. Final approval expected around November 2025. Sites under consideration include near QuickTrip by Kurt Manufacturing. Local representatives (Senator Baldwin and Representative Van Orden) are supportive.