Plan affects Jefferson Street
By Angie Landsverk
The block of Jefferson Street behind Waupaca’s library and city hall will become part of a city parking lot, and other parking spaces in the area will be reconfigured as well.
It is all related to a plan to create more parking spaces in downtown prior to the reconstruction of Main Street.
The redesign and reconstruction of Main Street, from Badger to Water streets, is scheduled for 2021 and will result in a loss of parking spaces on that street.
There are 140 parking spaces on this section of Main Street.
Jeff Saxby said under the latest design, there will be 99 parking spaces on the street, after it is reconstructed and redesigned.
He is the project manager for transportation services at Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH), in Appleton.
SEH is one of the city’s consultants for the Main Street project.
The reconstruction of the parking around city hall will take place this year, with construction estimated to take about three months.
The plan was presented to the common council during its Feb. 6 meeting.
The project will include the city’s parking lot, parking on Jefferson Street (from Fulton to Union streets) and parking on Fulton and Union streets (from Main to Jefferson streets).
In addition to the reconstruction of parking, it will also include the replacement of a water main and storm sewer.
Saxby said the parking redesign will result in 124 parking spaces, a gain of 27 parking spaces for this area.
With the city losing 41 parking spaces on Main Street once that project takes place, the gain of 27 parking spaces means the city will see a net loss of 14 parking spaces in its downtown, he said.
The redesigned city hall parking lot will include a raised crosswalk, a pedestrian island and greenspace.
While the primary reason for the redesign is to make up for some of the parking the city will lose on Main Street, Saxby said the city also wants this to be an inviting area.
Brennan Kane, the city’s director of community and economic development, said lighting options for this area are being discussed.
“What we do will set the tone for Main Street,” he said.
Business owners have already been notified about the upcoming reconstruction of parking around city hall.
The city plans to work closely with businesses in need of deliveries.
It has also been working closely with Bank First National to make sure the project does not disrupt the bank’s traffic flow through its site.
The city believes the project will result in an improved traffic situation in that area.
Once a contractor is chosen for the project, a public meeting will be scheduled.
“We’re looking at bidding out the project in early March. We will award it in late March, early April,” Kane said.