By Tere Dunlap
tdunlap@ themonroetimes.com
NEW GLARUS - A new Kleeman's tavern already has a site plan, less than three months after the original structure was destroyed in a fire Jan. 2.
The New Glarus Plan Commission approved the new site plan Thursday, allowing Gregg and Erin Kleeman to go forward with their plans to rebuild the tavern and the apartment above it in downtown New Glarus.
The commission's approval is contingent on approval of a few variances, according to New Glarus administrator Nicholas Owen.
The site plan will go to the Village Board for approval April 5, and a special meeting of the Plan Commission will be held on April 7 to consider the variance requests.
One variance the Kleemans are asking for is to construct a stairway at the rear of the building for an emergency exit.
A fast-moving fire at about midnight Jan. 2 completely destroyed Kleeman's Bar and Grill and the family apartment above it, located at 115 5th Ave. NW in New Glarus.
Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly 12 hours.
The building was razed shortly after because the unsteady structure remained a public safety hazard.
No one was seriously injured in the fire, though customers were in the bar when it was reportedly discovered in an upstairs room by Greg Kleeman. He briefly tried extinguishing the gathering blaze before running downstairs to clear the bar of patrons and call for help.
Kleeman lived upstairs with his wife and their three children, but the rest of the family were staying with a relative when the blaze began.
Firefighters arrived at about 12:10 a.m. to find the building fully engulfed, customers standing outside in the cold.
Monroe fire crews sent a ladder truck to the fire, and Monticello, Blanchardville, Hollandale and Mt. Horeb were among the many area fire departments assisting New Glarus crews on scene.
tdunlap@ themonroetimes.com
NEW GLARUS - A new Kleeman's tavern already has a site plan, less than three months after the original structure was destroyed in a fire Jan. 2.
The New Glarus Plan Commission approved the new site plan Thursday, allowing Gregg and Erin Kleeman to go forward with their plans to rebuild the tavern and the apartment above it in downtown New Glarus.
The commission's approval is contingent on approval of a few variances, according to New Glarus administrator Nicholas Owen.
The site plan will go to the Village Board for approval April 5, and a special meeting of the Plan Commission will be held on April 7 to consider the variance requests.
One variance the Kleemans are asking for is to construct a stairway at the rear of the building for an emergency exit.
A fast-moving fire at about midnight Jan. 2 completely destroyed Kleeman's Bar and Grill and the family apartment above it, located at 115 5th Ave. NW in New Glarus.
Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly 12 hours.
The building was razed shortly after because the unsteady structure remained a public safety hazard.
No one was seriously injured in the fire, though customers were in the bar when it was reportedly discovered in an upstairs room by Greg Kleeman. He briefly tried extinguishing the gathering blaze before running downstairs to clear the bar of patrons and call for help.
Kleeman lived upstairs with his wife and their three children, but the rest of the family were staying with a relative when the blaze began.
Firefighters arrived at about 12:10 a.m. to find the building fully engulfed, customers standing outside in the cold.
Monroe fire crews sent a ladder truck to the fire, and Monticello, Blanchardville, Hollandale and Mt. Horeb were among the many area fire departments assisting New Glarus crews on scene.