Landscaping company plans move to town

 Nic Ehr Landscaping will be relocating from Fox Point to the Town of Grafton after being given the go ahead by the Plan Commission.

The company is slated to open at 1593 Port Washington Rd.

The family owned landscaping company was founded in 1947 and services residential and commercial properties throughout southeastern Wisconsin. In addition to landscape design and maintenance, the company offers snow plow and ice control services, lawn fertilization, weed control and patio construction.

The Plan Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for the business during a Dec. 1 meeting, following a recommendation from town staff members.

 In their permit application, business managers Mike, Nic and Bill Ehr stated that in addition to bringing tax revenue to the town, their business would also help beautify a distressed site that many see as they drive into Grafton.

In addition to constructing a new pole building, Nic Ehr said the company will paint the existing house and pole barn on the lot and install landscaping to beautify the space.

Trustee Bob Wolf said he said having buildings on the property painted in a uniform color and fresh landscape installations will help improve the appearance of the lot.

“This will be a very nice enhancement to the area,” he said.

The business is approved to operate Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with the exception of days where snow removal or winter maintenance are needed. On such days the business may operate at any time.

 Plan Commission members expressed concerns snow plow and salting operations in the early morning may be a nuisance to neighbors of the property.

Nic Ehr said his Fox Point operation currently operates in a dense residential area and that he has not received noise complaints. He added that crews are instructed to reduce as much noise as possible when working late or early hours.

John Vetter, an architect with Vetter Architects who assisted the Ehrs with the application, requested that one detail of the permit be amended before approval.

Town language initially limited use of a legal nonconforming home on the business district property to an employee of Nic Ehr Landscaping but Vetter requested the home be available to anyone.

Nic Ehr said he has a foreman responsible for salting roads and keeping watch of the property slated to stay in the home. He said ideally he would like to maintain an employee in the home but does not want to be limited in the conditional use permit.

Town staff members advised the legal nonconforming classification of the home would allow anyone to reside there and the permit language was amended.

While the change could open the home up to be rented out in the future, Nic Ehr said that it is his intention to retain an employee there.