Plan Commission Meeting – January 20, 2026

The Fitchburg Plan Commission convened on January 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM to consider three major development proposals: a rezone and preliminary plat for a 25-lot single-family subdivision near Notre Dame Drive, a rezone to allow an assisted living and memory care facility on East Cheryl Parkway, and a comprehensive development plan amendment, rezone, and certified survey map for a mixed-use commercial and residential project off Fitchrona Road. The meeting also included a transportation and transit committee report and the introduction of a new commissioner.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the December 16, 2025, meeting were approved unanimously by voice vote (all ayes, no opposition).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 5A – Rezone and Preliminary Plat (Irish 1855 LLC): Three residents spoke in opposition or with concerns.
  • John Tuhe (Mary Lane resident) expressed dissatisfaction that the property, which he was told would remain open space, is now slated for development. He requested additional tree preservation and a review of the DNR's stormwater plan for the creek rerouting, noting that a retention pond nearly overflowed during a moderate rain event.
  • Ethan Blankespoor (Mary Lane resident) echoed concerns about loss of wildlife habitat (deer, owls, sandhill cranes, etc.) and stormwater impacts, and noted that he paid a premium for the lot based on representations that the area would remain open space.
  • Susan Dashgun (The Crossing resident) raised concerns about traffic safety and speed on Notre Dame Drive, and asked that the 100+ residents of The Crossing be considered during construction.
• Preliminary Plat Public Comment: David Hayes (Woods Edge Road resident) argued that the preliminary plat should not be approved because the city has not met legal requirements under NR 103 regarding wetlands and the comprehensive plan lacks necessary elements (housing, transportation, environmental protection). He urged commissioners to seek city attorney opinions to uphold their oaths.
• Items 5D-5F – CDP, Rezone, and CSM (Fitchport Partners): No public testimony was offered during the public hearings, but discussion was extensive among commission and staff.

Discussion Items

• Item 5A – Rezone RZ-2626-26 and Preliminary Plat PP-2625-26 (Irish 1855 LLC):
  • Staff report by Deanna Schmidt corrected a clerical error: the request was for rezone to RLM (low-to-medium density residential), not RL. The property, near 2624 Notre Dame Drive, has been designated low-density residential in city land use maps since 1995. The 25-lot subdivision would feature lots roughly 70 ft x 120 ft, with a cul-de-sac and a walkway connection to the multi-use path. A stormwater management plan must meet 200-year standards and the McGraw neighborhood plan. A tree preservation plan identified 217 desirable trees; most pines are in poor health and not likely to be saved. The developer will provide fee-in-lieu of parkland dedication.
  • Commission discussed stormwater capacity (Ben Schulte confirmed regional ponds assumed this development), tree removal and replanting (developer David Feiji indicated most pines will be removed for safety and site construction, with street trees and buffers planned), and the desirability of the cul-de-sac (staff noted no reasonable connectivity alternative exists).
  • Condition 22 was amended to explicitly require the stormwater permit to meet 200-year standards and McGraw neighborhood standards. The motion to approve the rezone carried unanimously on a voice vote. The preliminary plat was then approved with the 27 conditions (including amended condition 22), also unanimously.
• Item 5C – Rezone RZ-2627-26 (Grace Hospice Holdings):
  • Staff described the request to amend the PDD-GIP to allow an assisted living and memory care facility at 5395 East Cheryl Parkway. Phase one includes hospice facilities and parking; phase two creates a dementia village with eight houses and a clubhouse. The next step is a PDD-SIP with architectural design review. The commission approved the rezone with nine conditions unanimously.
• Items 5D, 5E, 5F – CDP-26-28-26, Rezone RZ-2629-26, and CS-2630-26 (Fitchport Partners):
  • Staff report covered the amendments to allow a high-density residential building (second multifamily structure) and a 27,000 sq ft commercial retail center on a former quarry site off Fitchrona Road. Key concerns included the relationship between the commercial loading docks and the multifamily building (70 ft separation, grade change, fencing, and screening), parking lot landscaping (278 desired stalls vs. ~300 planned; staff wants larger landscape islands), flag lot for a quick-serve restaurant, and a buffer wider than 60 ft along the north property line.
  • Developer Corey Frank (multifamily) and Jeff Huntley (commercial) explained that the commercial orientation was driven by retailer demand and visibility; they are committed to mitigating impacts with berms, landscaping, and limited delivery hours. The first phase of the overall project (outlot development) has faced delays due to buried concrete and permitting, but completion of public improvements is expected by June 2026, with Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, and others opening in August-September 2026.
  • Commission discussed concerns about parking quantity, pedestrian connectivity to public parks, the possibility of mixed-use (retail with residential above) in the commercial lot, and the need for a playground between the multifamily buildings. Staff recommended approval with conditions; commissioners noted the need for continued collaboration to refine details in the SIP stage.
  • All three items were approved unanimously: CDP with 8 conditions, rezone with 12 conditions (including correcting condition 7 from 6 to 60 feet), and CSM with 24 conditions.
• Item 5G – Early Issuance of Permits: Postponed indefinitely at the request of the applicant (Corey Frank for Home Street multifamily development). The motion to postpone carried unanimously.
• Reports:
  • Transportation and Transit Committee (January 8 meeting): Gabriela reported on discussions about Metro Transit accessibility, including new transit materials at Fitchburg Library, snow/ice concerns at bus stops, and a planned significant expansion of bus service (likely no sooner than August 2026). The committee also discussed the bike/pedestrian plan update and a potential bus stop elimination.
  • Planning Department: Deanna Schmidt noted that RFPs for zoning code updates and comprehensive plan updates are nearly complete; they will be issued by the end of the week. The department will also work on updates to the Agricultural Farmland Preservation Zoning Ordinance to maintain state certification.
• Introduction of New Commissioner: Jason Rice was welcomed as the newest Plan Commissioner. He is a Fitchburg resident with experience in commercial property management and development (most recently a 29-unit apartment building in Maple Bluff).

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Rezone RZ-2626-26 (Irish 1855 LLC) – unanimous voice vote.
• Approved: Preliminary Plat PP-2625-26 with 27 conditions (including amended condition 22) – unanimous.
• Approved: Rezone RZ-2627-26 (Grace Hospice Holdings) with 9 conditions – unanimous.
• Approved: Comprehensive Development Plan CDP-26-28-26 with 8 conditions – unanimous.
• Approved: Rezone RZ-2629-26 with 12 conditions (condition 7 corrected to 60 ft) – unanimous.
• Approved: Certified Survey Map CS-2630-26 with 24 conditions – unanimous.
• Postponed: Item 5G (early issuance of permits) indefinitely – unanimous.
• Next Steps: The approved rezones and preliminary plat will return for final plat review. The Grace Hospice project will next submit a PDD-SIP. The Fitchport Partners CDP amendment will require further detailed plans in the SIP and CSM recording. The comprehensive plan RFP is expected to be issued by end of week.