Village of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin

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Concept Plan for Creamery Site

CONCEPT REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE TURTLE LAKE CREAMERY SITE

The Village of Turtle Lake is undertaking a project to evaluate potential uses for the former Turtle Lake Creamery Site at 120 Railway Ave, near historic downtown and the Cattail Trail. The Village received an $18,000 Technical Assistance Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to develop a redevelopment concept plan for the one-acre site. What is a Redevelopment Concept Plan? A redevelopment concept plan is a high-level overview of a proposed redevelopment project. The concept redevelopment plan for the Creamery Site includes the following elements:  Site Analysis: An assessment of the current conditions of the site, including any physical deficiencies or environmental issues.  Vision and Goals: The overall vision for the redevelopment and the specific goals the project aims to achieve.  Land Use Plan: A layout showing how the land will be used, including residential, commercial, and public spaces.  Design Guidelines: Architectural and design standards to ensure the development is cohesive and aesthetically pleasing.  Infrastructure Plan: Details on necessary infrastructure improvements, such as roads and utilities.  Implementation Plan: A timeline for the different stages of the redevelopment project. It’s important to understand that a concept plan serves as a preliminary vision for the redevelopment project. While it outlines the general ideas and goals, it is not a final blueprint. The concept plan is subject to change based on various factors, including community feedback, regulatory requirements, and further detailed planning. What is the Preferred Concept Plan and How Did We Get Here? Public Participation The Turtle Lake Creamery Site Redevelopment plan was developed with participation from the community. The following list contains previous opportunities for the community to lend their voices to the development of the plan:  Community Survey (Available from March 24, 2025, to April 20, 2025)  Public Open House (February 25, 2025) Residents expressed interest in small-scale store fronts, park facilities with sports courts, and a restaurant / microbrewery. Residents participating in the public outreach activities frequently mentioned the need for more housing options in the Village; however, they expressed concerns about housing being adjacent to the Puris Plant due to the light, noise and smell it emitted. Evaluation and Elimination Options Each land use type that residents showed interest in was assessed to determine its potential for success. The feasibility analysis included a review of community demographic trends, economic trends, land use trends, and the availability of funding sources to develop the site and cover maintenance.  Restaurant / Microbrewery fills a needed niche, especially if it is targeted towards trail users and local residents.  Small-scale storefronts deemed unfeasible due to economic trends favoring the US 8 corridor and the conversion of existing downtown commercial spaces into residential uses.  The Village decided against adding a park facility with sports courts, as it already has ample amenities. Maintaining existing parks has been financially challenging for the past decade, and more parkland would worsen these issues.  Due to the uncertain future of Puris Plant operations, a housing scenario was reconsidered. Alternative Scenarios The following two alternative scenarios were chosen as the result of the evaluation phase of the project.  Microbrewery/Restaurant Scenario: Proposed a 4,000 sq. ft. building fronting Maple Street with 20 parking spaces. This concept was selected for its potential to buffer nearby residences from the adjacent Puris Plant, serve trail users, and enhance local dining options. Below is a concept image illustrating a potential design for the microbrewery or restaurant. The final design of the structure shall be determined by the developer and the Village.  Townhomes Scenario: Plans for six townhomes facing Railway Ave. Each townhome includes an attached 1-car garage and driveway space for one car. Following recent uncertainty regarding the future operations of the Puris Plant a housing option is being reassessed. Townhomes fill the community’s needs for more attainable homes and are compatible with the recent shift of downtown commercial uses being transformed into residences. Below is a concept image illustrating a potential design for a series of townhomes. The final design of the structures shall be determined by the developer and the Village. Preferred Concept Plan Given the optimistic outlook on the potential reopening or repurposing of the Puris Plant, a Microbrewery/Restaurant was selected as the preferred scenario. This scenario offers several benefits: it will provide sufficient screening from the noise and light emitted by the Puris Plant for adjacent residential areas, serve as a destination for users of the Cattail State Trail, and add another eatery to cater to both locals and visitors. What are your thoughts on the preferred and alternative scenarios shown? Please provide your thoughts on the preferred and alternative scenario here: Turtle-Lake-Creamery-Site-Concept-Survey. The online comment form will be available until July 18 th at 9:00 AM. Next Steps The Village will incorporate public feedback from the fair and online form to finalize the concept plan. This plan is intended to guide future redevelopment initiatives and provide information for potential investment in the site. Presenting a clear redevelopment concept plan allows potential investors to understand the proposed direction for the area. In addition, a detailed plan may assist in obtaining funding from government grants, private investors, and other sources by outlining the feasibility of and community input for the proposed projects.

Questions? For questions about this project, please contact:  Karen Jenkinson, Village Clerk, Turtle Lake, (715) 986-2241, extension 5, clerk@turtlelakewi.com  Cory Davis, Director of Public Works, Turtle Lake, (715) 986-2820, vtlpw@turtlelakewi.com  Laurie Miller, Lead Planner, SEH, (414) 949-8969, lmiller@sehinc.com

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