Updated: Garden Centers Readying For Spring

Updated 1:45 p.m. April 25: Another garden center in Oak Creek - the Plan Commission on April 26 will consider a permit for Westview Gardens to operate a seasonal flower market from May 1-July 1 in the parking lot of Classic Lanes, 7501 S. Howell Ave.

In another sure sign of spring, temporary garden centers will soon begin popping up at a few Oak Creek businesses.

The Plan Commission on Tuesday night recommended approving temporary-use permits for Stein Just Plants and Blain's Farm and Fleet.

Pending Common Council approval, Stein would be in the parking lot of Kohl's, 9035 S. Howell Ave, while Farm and Fleet's garden center would be in its customary spot - outside the store at 501 W. Rawson Ave.

The permits allow those businesses to operate the garden centers until early July. Other similar requests are expected to come before the commission in the next few weeks.

Stein's permit was unanimously approved, though city staff members were at odds with Plan Commissioners over the request.

The Community Development Department does not want parking lots to become places constantly occupied by transient businesses, which pack up shop after a few months, Zoning Administrator Pete Wagner said.

That would not be fair to other businesses who have invested heavily in Oak Creek, he said. Stein may be a well-run operation, but other, less desirable businesses may want a permit now that a precedent is set. 

"It's an equity issue," Wagner said. "We're looking big picture. We're not just looking at Stein's individually."

But Mayor Dick Bolender and other Plan Commissioners disagreed, saying competition is good for consumers and Stein provides another choice for shoppers in Oak Creek.

"To say, 'We don't want you here because you don't have a brick-and-mortar structure' doesn't even hold water for me. We can't do that. To me, that's denying someone the right to have a business," Bolender said.

Stein expects to begin operating outside Kohl's the first week of May, a company representative told the Plan Commission.

In case you missed it over the weekend, see our feature on .