After much discussion about green space, LED signs, light pollution, and a spring-fed pond, the West Bend Plan Commission signed off on a conditional use permit for Kwik Trip to develop a 7,000-square-foot gas station/convenience store in the 1700 block of S. Silverbrook Drive.
The service station will feature 26 gas pumps on five pump islands and a car wash.
During a public hearing portion of the meeting several neighbors praised the Kwik Trip standard.
“Their food is terrific. The employees greet you with open arms and it’s a local company based in La Crosse,” said Lloyd of West Bend.
Billy Happel moved to West Bend from Wausau two years ago. “I made a mistake because there’s not a Kwik Trip in West Bend,” he said. “I do all my gas purchases at Kwik Trip because I can get milk, bread, eggs and when you look at Wausau it has nine Kwik Trips. If a city that size can have nine and we have none here – I believe Kwik Trip makes the other stations better.”
Not everyone praised Kwik Trip. Bud Osowski is co-owner of the Shell station on Paradise Drive. He’s kiddie corner from the lot being sought by Kwik Trip. Osowski argued several times that the location just south of Commerce State Bank was poor planning on the part of the city. He argued about the dwindling amount of green space in the community and the final straw was the 22-foot sign that would be visible to traffic along Highway 45.
Some members of the Plan Commission including Ryan Peterson agreed with Osowski saying the sign along Highway 45 isn’t a good representation of the community. “We’re different than one of those interchange towns,” he said. “The one sign takes us down a notch.”
Commission member Chris Schmidt said if they voted against the sign that would be “handcuffing their operation.”
The thought was then brought up that the 20-foot sign overlooking the highway would then distract from the architecture and block the view of neighboring Commerce State Bank.
Plan Commission member Jed Dolnick asked if Kwik Trip could reduce the size of its sign.
Troy Mleziva, real estate development manager with Kwik Trip, said the 50-square-foot sign was pretty standard.
Tom Hopp, president of Commerce State Bank, said he was not concerned about the size or placement of the sign and did not see how it would interfere with the bank.
Hopp was pleased Kwik Trip was moving forward with plans to build on the parcel. He said Commerce State Bank owned the property and had been trying to sell it the last eight years.
“We thought a Holiday Inn Express was going to go in there and then that fell apart and everybody wanted an Olive Garden, so we called them but nobody bit,” he said.
Osowski approached the podium again and asked that Kwik Trips sign along the highway not be allowed to post gas prices. That suggestion didn’t go far.
“How about I approach Keberle & Patrykus (a law firm on Gateway Court) and see if I can post a 20-foot Shell sign in their yard,” Osowski said.
The mayor said Osowski would have to check with the law firm and community development about that.
Officials with Kwik Trip have yet to purchase the property. Spokesman Hans Zietlow said they wanted to get approval from the city first.
Seriously worried about a sign that will block the view of the bank! No one really sees that bank. I dont know about most folks, but I keep my eye on the road. Now that the speed limit is 70 mph you basically have a split second to see it.
For many years I never even knew what that building was. There’s hardly ever any cars in the lot. I often wondered why a bank would be in such a spot of ,”Low Visibility” It’s set off the main road of Paradise Ave, and right now there is low traffic there. When I did come to find out it was a bank, years after the building popped up, I actually thought it was just one big Mortgage Finance Company or an Insurance company.
So if you ask me, it’s not very visible now. I guarantee you once Kwik Trip IS there, they will get MORE visibility, as Kwik Trip will be bringing more traffic coming from all directions, therefore more citizens aknowledging what that building really is!
As for Shell , they shouldn’t be so selfish, they are the only gas station on that whole stretch. No one is mighter than anyone else. Competition is always good. It brings about better promotions.
Personally, I get gas fill ups at Speedway in Menomonee Falls when I am down there each week because I pay 10¢ less on average, per gallon of gas. West Bend gas prices are insane and we need the competition, contrary to public belief, there are more lower income – medium incomes here than high. So gouging our citizens on the thought of the so-called wealth West Bend “used” to have, is an outrage. We have more empty houses, store fronts, and closed buisnesses than ever before. Ever since our West Bend Company unfolded. We need Kwik Trip and the revenue it will bring us. We need bigger companies to help showcase our city in hopes to bring more established companies here.
This is a world of growth and change, some politicians need not be so smug and open their minds to it. With Kwik Trip and Mijers coming, we finally have some hope for more jobs and opportunities for our citizens. Let’s focus on filling those empty houses and buisnesses and making the community one we can be proud of again. Not one of shame and dissappointment! Our youth as well as our seasoned citizens need more job opportunities. As they say, “Build it and they will come”. Can’t shelter West Bend from the inevitable, it will only do us more harm and so to speak, bankrupt our town.
My motto has always been ” Change is Good! ” If it’s broke, fix it! The more our citizens can live and work in this town, our money will be spent in this town. More money to feed local business small and large. Just…..EMBRACE IT !!