Commission reviews site plan
By Robert Cloud
Aldi hopes to open a grocery store in New London.
David Vincent, the city’s building inspector, told the New London Planning Commission that Aldi plans to build a new store at 1910 N. Shawano St.
The proposed building is 19,631 square feet.
Vincent said the city’s zoning staff recommended the commission approve the site plan as submitted.
He noted two items on the site plan that needed further work: outdoor lighting and landscaping.
“They don’t have a lighting plan yet, although our ordinance only regulates that it doesn’t shine on other properties,” Vincent said.
Vincent also noted that the zoning department is working with the city’s parks department on the landscaping plan.
Tom Howald with Aldi Inc. and Mark Seidl with Pinnacle Engineering presented site plans to the commission at an Oct. 26 meeting.
“Our goal right now is to start construction in 2024,” Howald said. “We have to do some wetland delineation and go through the exemption process. That should take us probably to the end of the year.”
Howald said Aldi plans to break ground in the spring and open in the fall of 2024.
“Fingers crossed, everything goes according to plan,” Howald said.
The commission voted to approve the site plan.
Victory Church
In other business, the commission approved Victory Church’s request for conditional use permit to expand its religious services on a commercially zoned parcel.
The church currently shares space with Crystal Falls restaurant and banquet facility at 1500 Handschke Drive.
City Administrator Chad Hoerth said the church leases space on the west side of the building and was granted a conditional use permit in November 2017 for the portion it currently occupies.
The church intends to purchase the property and eventually expand into the restaurant section of the building.
Crystal Falls will continue to operate with a lease, “which to our understanding is three years yet,” Hoerth said.
The commission voted in favor granting a permit to the church.