Update: Stein's Withdraws Proposal for Seasonal Garden Center

Updated 11 p.m. Friday: After the Plan Commission meeting, Stein's notified the village that the company is withdrawing its proposal and will site the business in another community, according to Village Manager Patrick DeGrave's weekly memo.

Whitefish Bay trustees did not want to spend nearly $55,000 on a paved "events pad" in the parking lot behind , but now that the price tag has been cut to $37,000, Plan Commissioners are recommending the Village Board give the concept final approval.

The concept of an "events pad" was created to allow a space for a seasonal Stein's Garden Center, Stein's Just Plants, and other vendors to use the space without taking up parking in the lot between Silver Spring Drive and Beaumont Avenue. The original proposal called for paving over the north end of the parking lot median near Beaumont, but due to the nearly $55,000 price tag, instead of pavement to cut costs. Stein's agreed to the idea.

As rent, Stein's has agreed to pay the village $15,000 and donate 500 pumpkins to the village's . Village Manager Patrick DeGrave said no other tenants are confirmed to use the events pad, and any civic groups that use the pad would not be charged rent.

To make the project pay off, therefore, Stein's would have to agree to stay at least three summers in Whitefish Bay.

A representative from Stein's at Tuesday morning's Plan Commission meeting said the company would initially like to try the first year, and if it is profitable, continue the business at that location.

Commissioners unanimously voted to recommend the Village Board move forward with drafting a lease with Stein's for next summer. The commissioners that the board take into consideration the costs and benefits, low-impact lighting, parking, safety and the possibility of using pervious pavement to reduce stormwater runoff when drafting the lease.