Site Plan reviews Gateway affordable housing development

01-13-2026

JAMES KUCKKAN

james.kuckkan@apg-sw.com

WATERTOWN — On Monday, the Site Plan Review discussed details on plans to redevelop land on Gateway Drive into seven new lots, spearheaded by The Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation.

The lots will be zoned for singlefamily residential homes to "meet the needs of today's workforce and firsttime buyers."

"Having learned lessons from Rock River Ridge, one of those was affordable housing and the opportunity to get infill products going forward that will get smaller lot sizes, also looking at maximizing utilities that are underground," said Greater Watertown President and CEO Ben Wehmeier. "We did look at the opportunities of what was available within the region. What we found was that 1.1 acres lot, just south on Gateway Drive across from Tractor Supply, to look at an opportunity to test this out. And not only with the City, but also potentially with some other builders and other communities that can see this as a way to look at affordable housing going forward. Our plan is to partner with White Oaks to move this forward."

To facilitate this development, the parcel needs to be rezoned from multifamily residential to single family.

The homes will "establish a well-designed residential enclave", and aligns with the City's Comprehensive Plan to "use existing infrastructure efficiently."

Given their proximity to existing retail parcels (Walmart and Tractor Supply), the new neighborhood presents a "thoughtful transition from the commercial corridor."

The Site Plan Review members gave no significant comments towards the development, and it later went in front of the Plan Commission on Monday, after the Daily Times' print deadline.

Just up the street, there is a developer "very interested" in the parcel at 1911 Gateway, discussed at a previous Redevelopment Authority meeting.

"(They have) an offer to purchase and (are) doing due diligence, hopefully closing on the property if everything turns out okay," Sybell said. "(They're) looking for a TID and we put them in touch with Vandewalle. The City did meet with them. Some 288 units of housing, with ponds, springs and walking trails. They have a number of different concepts and it seems very exciting.

"More to come on that but very exciting. Real straight shooters. They've done some development in Johnson Creek. Once we have more to share, you can actually see their work."

Before the Site Plan Review meeting adjourned, it also approved The Oxbow's amended General Development Plan and Planned Development Overlay, with a few minor conditions.