Planning Commission approves site plan, seeks public input on comprehensive plan

By Robert Cloud

The city’s Planning Commission approved the site plan that First State Bank submitted for the new corporate headquarters it plans to build in downtown New London.

At the commission’s Aug. 25 meeting, City Zoning Administrator David Vincent said the site plan shows the main components of plans for the building design, the site, utilities, landscaping and drainage.

“I have talked with our Public Works Department and our Utilities Department and they are comfortable with the design that has been proposed,” Vincent said.

The new facility will encompass the area where First State’s drive-up is currently located.

Its address will be 222 W. Waupaca St. There will be three driveways into the property, with the main entrance on Waupaca Street.

Vincent told the commission that First State Bank has sent its plans to the state and hopes to begin construction shortly after its plans are approved.

The building should be open by the middle of next year, Vincent said.

First State Bank’s new headquarters will combine the lobby, drive-up and local corporate operations for its 10 branch offices into one facility.

Citizen Survey

Eric Fowle, a senior planner with Cedar Corporation, talked with the Planning Commission about a citizen survey regarding New London’s Comprehensive Plan.

State law requires cities, towns and counties to adopt comprehensive plans that address the community’s issues and opportunities, housing, transportation, utilities and public facilities, agricultural, natural and cultural resources, economic development, land use and intergovernmental cooperation.

Common Council adopted New London’s original Comprehensive Plan in September 2007.

On July 13, the council adopted a resolution to amend the plan and seek public input through an online survey.

Cedar Corporation is helping the city draft its revised Comprehensive Plan.

“As of this morning, we have 96 responses,” Fowle said. “I would have thought it would be higher by now.”

Fowle noted that 79% of those who started the survey actually completed it.

Typically, such online surveys have at least a 90% completion rate, Fowle said.

He said it takes about 11 minutes to complete the survey.

“So, it’s not too cumbersome or too long,” Fowle said. “Most of the time that we do surveys, it takes anywhere from 9-11 minutes.”

A mailing about the online survey accompanied utility bills and paper copies of the survey can be obtained at city hall.

Noting that there are about 3,000 households in New London, Fowle estimated the response rate at about 3%.

“Typically, it’s in the 5-10% (range),” Fowle said.

Vincent told the New London Press Star that the online survey was scheduled to end Friday, Sept. 2.

However, in an effort to encourage more public input, the survey will remain up and running until Tuesday, Sept. 6.

A link to the survey can be found at the bottom of the city’s home page at www.newlondonwi.org/.