Bob Dohr

Daily Herald Media

WAUSAU – No names are being divulged, but a local developer on Tuesday said two retailers are in talks to fill a vacant parcel at the intersection of 28th and Stewart avenues on Wausau's west side.

Ghidorzi Cos. is looking to build out the 8.8-acre plot at 2800 Stewart Ave., across the street from Menards and just north of the Kwik Trip store.

The developer had provided two alternate site plans to the city, one showing two 50,000-square-foot buildings and another depicting one building of that size and another smaller building to the north.

At Tuesday's Plan Commission meeting, Ghidorzi Cos. Vice President of Property Development Chris Ghidorzi confirmed his business is negotiating with a pair of retailers to put up stores at the site.

"The opportunity we currently have in front of us is that we are working with two retailers, both of which are over 7,000 square feet, and are represented in the site plan that has two buildings of 50,000 square feet," Ghidorzi said.

Whether that means the two retailers each would have buildings of 50,000 square feet or somewhere between 7,000 and 50,000 square feet isn't clear. Ghidorzi declined media requests for comment. He also did not reveal the names of the retailers being pursued.

The 7,000-square-foot figure is important because the lot lies in an interchange business district and special approval is required for retail businesses in excess of that size in such a district.

The commission unanimously recommended granting the conditional use to allow the retail buildings to be over 7,000 square feet, with Mayor Jim Tipple, a commission member, recusing himself from the vote, citing a possible conflict of interest.

Commission member Jim Rosenberg asked about access to the site. Currently, there's full access from Stewart Avenue but access from 28th Avenue is limited to southbound traffic.

City Planner Brad Lenz said a proposal to add a cut-out to the median on 28th Avenue to allow northbound vehicles to enter the site has been endorsed by the Capital Improvements & Street Maintenance Committee, although it hasn't been finalized.

"That would be a left-in only," Lenz said. "They would not be able to exit onto 28th Avenue to the left."

Commission member David Oberbeck, the City Council member who represents the district, said the development would be "welcomed" in his district and the city, and said he doesn't think increased traffic would be an issue.

"We've lived on that side (of town) for 16 years and I've never seen a real issue with 28th Avenue being overpowered by traffic," Oberbeck said. "I think this entrance that's proposed on the east side of the property would work well for this purpose."

The Kwik Trip on the south side of the parcel that opened last year is one piece to the development of the entire 11-acre parcel, formerly owned by the state Department of Transportation.

The City Council is expected to discuss the recommendation Sept. 9.

Bob Dohr can be reached at 715-845-0660. Find him on Twitter as @BobDohr1.

Massage therapy school proposal moves forward

In other action, the Plan Commission looked favorably on a proposal that would allow a massage therapy school to operate in a building at 1015 N. Sixth St. Members unanimously recommended granting a conditional use permit for Serenity Now to locate a massage therapy school in the building that houses Zipperer Financial. According to the plan filed by Randy and Dennise Pagel, the Serenity Now School of Massage, which now operates out of the YWCA, would be located in the upper level of the building. Zipperer Financial would remain in the main level, with the lower level available to be leased to a licensed professional, like a lawyer or doctor. The City Council is expected to take up the matter Sept. 9.