Jimmy John’s is planning to open one of its eateries in Shawano, and the Shawano Plan Commission approved a conditional use permit Aug. 28 for the business.
Jimmy John’s will be located at 811 E. Green Bay St., with plans to raze the current building and redevelop the street. The site is zoned as urban mixed use, according to Dave Moesch, zoning administrator, and any in-vehicle sales and service such as a drive-thru require a permit.
According to Cardell Potter, owner for Miracle 58, the limited liability company bringing Jimmy John’s to town, the building would be about 1,350 square feet on a half-acre of land. The smaller building would necessitate having a drive-thru, which was why he applied for the conditional use permit.
“With any kind of fast food restaurant, the drive-thru is kind of the key success for us, so that’s something that’s important for us, as well,” Potter said.
Jane Hahn, speaking of behalf of resident Robert Thomas, said folks in the neighborhood didn’t have any issues with Jimmy John’s locating there, but they want a fence 8-10 feet tall around the property. It wasn’t for any noise issues, she said, but rather to block the view of homeless people sleeping around the current building.
“It’s so they can keep the values up on their homes,” Hahn said.
Potter said he was open to having a fence on the property, but he would need to take a closer look at the property and make sure a fence didn’t negatively impact adequate space for parking.
Moesch suggested that a 6-foot fence was part of the permit requirements, but Hahn was insistent that the fence had to be taller.
“They have problems with people sleeping back there like it’s an alley, and people use that all the time,” Hahn said. “Their back yard is facing that, so that’s why they want a barrier so that they don’t have to look at that in their backyard.”
Mayor Bruce Milavitz questioned if vagrants would still sleep in that spot once the property was spruced up with an active business operating.
“This might detour some of the people sleeping there,” Milavitz said.
Commissioner Terry Hilgenberg, who abstained from the final vote because he facilitated the sale of the property, said Jimmy John’s would be a welcome change to the area.
“The city of Shawano has been encouraging me for eight years to sell this property, so this is great news for the city,” Hilgenberg said. “I think we’re going to have a very good user here.”
The conditional use permit still requires approval from the Shawano Common Council, which meets Sept. 11. If approved, demolition is expected at the end of September.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
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