Panel backs plans for dentist office, strip mall

Plans for a dental office and strip mall on Grafton’s east side were recommended by the Plan Commission last week.

The plans submitted by dentist David Grisar call for a more than 9,000-square-foot strip mall off North Port Washington Road near its intersection with Falls Road and an almost 6,200-square-foot dental office further back on the property.

There is currently a vacant residence on the seven-acre property that features large swaths of wetland and steep elevations, plans said.

Representatives from Design 2 Construct Development Corp. told the board they “did not touch the wetlands” when laying out the buildings. A large portion of the site will remain undeveloped.

Grisar plans to move to the new office from his current location at 1515 Wisconsin Ave. The new office site will have space for a possible addition.

The buildings would be constructed one at a time, with groundbreaking in fall, according to plans. After that building is completed in spring of next year, construction on the other would start.

Village Community Development Director Jessica Wolff said Grisar has not decided which building will be started first.

The commission also recommended approval to the Village Board of the survey map, rezoning and annexation of the property.

At the same meeting, the commission recommended a final plat for 13 lots at the Shady Hollow subdivision near the intersection of North Green Bay Road and Pleasant Valley Road.

The Village Board will consider the recommendations on the Shady Hollow and  Grisar developments in August.

Plans for a fifth-grade wing at John Long Middle School were also approved at the commission meeting.

The 14,000-square-foot expansion includes six classrooms, two special education rooms and one “bubble” room to accommodate class size fluctuations, allowing for fifth-grade classes at Kennedy and Woodview elementary schools to be moved to the middle school after the project’s expected completion in August of next year.

District officials said the addition will help relieve overcrowding at the district’s elementary schools.

While the general location for a playground near the north parking lot is laid out in the plans, a more detailed site plan will be reviewed by village staff before its construction, Wolff said.

Construction of the addition and several other remodeling projects at John Long were funded by an $11.14 million referendum approved by voters in April.