October 20, 2021 – Hartford, WI – The City of Hartford Zoning Committee will review a variance during a meeting next month in connection with a proposal to build a much larger Culver’s Restaurant at the old Ponderosa location, 1285 E. Sumner Street, in Hartford.
It was October 12, 2021 when WashingtonCountyInsider.com first reported Culver’s would be moving from its old site across the road, 1570 E. Sumner Street, which sustained severe damage following a fire September 11, 2021.
Details included in the landscape plans courtesy Kimley Horn:
- the property includes 114 regular striped parking stalls and 6 handicapped accessible striped parking stalls for a total of 120 striped parking stalls
- the subject property is located at the southeast corner of E. Sumner Street and Plaza Drive.
- the existing building is 7,929 square feet
- the existing structure (formerly Ponderosa) will be removed
- proposed Culvers is 4,648 square feet
- The design below shows a double drive thru on the east side of the building.
- a 1,123-square-foot outdoor patio is proposed for the west side of the building
- two driveways are proposed off Novak Street
Justin Drew is the City of Hartford Director of Community Development. He said there could still be some significant changes to the designs based on final submission.
The zoning committee, plan commission, or common council would also express comments/concerns about the final submission.
Jeff Liegel and his company, S & L Properties West Bend LLC, purchased the Culver’s in Hartford for $2.4 million.
“This new location will give us enough room for a double drive thru, increased dining room and parking,” said Liegel. “Our new location will be open in six to seven months.”
The 1.7-acre parcel, 1285 E. Sumner Street, was sold July 1, 2021 for $950,000 to DMD Hartford, Appleton, Wisconsin. The property had been assessed at $1,196,600.
On Wednesday, October 20, 2021 Hartford Fire Chief Paul Stephans said the cause of the Sept. 11, 2021 Culver’s fire remains under investigation.
“The building will be made safe next week and then investigators will be able to get in and take a look,” said Stephans.
The fire investigators will include Stephans, a member of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and the insurance fire investigator.
