Persons wishing to move existing homes onto residential lots in Whiting will need to make sure those structures are compatible with their new neighborhood.
The Whiting Village Board adopted an ordinance requiring persons to have Plan Commission and Village Board approval before moving any existing homes onto residential lots. The ordinance was one of two the board approved when it met Tuesday, Aug. 10.
Requiring village approval before moving houses should prevent a home from being moved into a neighborhood and causing a measurable decline in the property values of the houses already in place, board members said.
Whiting now has the authority to require persons moving existing homes to make those structures consistent with the architecture and property value of the neighborhood, Village President Charles Kell said. The village can require persons to make improvements to those structures and provide a letter of credit.
The second ordinance adopted Tuesday would allow Department of Natural Resources offices and maintenance facilities as a permitted use in conservancy zoning district. Adoption of the ordinance permits the DNR to add on to a maintenance garage at the Whiting Ranger Station to make room for a new piece of fire fighting equipment. The Whiting Ranger Station, 301 Cedar St., was built prior to village zoning regulations.
Acting on recommendations from a Plan Commission meeting last week, the Village Board approved site plans for the Book Look, 2724 Post Road, and The Wellness Spa, 3916 Church St.
Kell updated the board on the McDill Pond dam and Highway HH construction projects in the village.
Depending upon the weather, the anticipated completion date of the McDill Pond dam is Aug. 23, Kell said. After the dam is completed, it will take a few weeks to restore the water level of McDill Pond. DNR officials have said the abundant weed growth on the now exposed pond bottom should die when the water returns. The weeds are terrestrial plants.
The Highway HH roadway should be completed in October, Kell said.
All concrete work is completed on the Plover River bridge project on Whiting Road, said Board Member Al Walkush, chairman of the Public Works Committee. Contractors are working against a Sept. 23 deadline to complete the roadway.
The Public Works Committee determined developing the old bridge into a fishing wharf doesn't fall within the scope of the Tax Incremental Finance District funding the road and bridge project, Walkush said. With no funds available at this time, the fishing pier could be a future park project. The old bridge is adequate for fishing right now.
Whiting officials are also gearing up for a possible date in court with Wisconsin Central Railroad over alleged violations of the village's train whistle ordinance. The village ordinance prohibits trains from blowing their whistles at crossings overnight, except in emergencies.
During a recent conference call between him and attorneys representing the village and railroad, railroad attorneys discussed if a compromise could be reached, Kell said. One option is to remove obstructions near crossings to improve visibility for engineers. The village could also petition the state Office of the Commissioner of Railroads to install gates at crossings in Whiting.
If no compromise can be reached, the Village Board should be prepared to approve spending money to pay experts needed for the October court hearing, Kell said.