Food Trailer Plans Put in Park

Historic, unused farmhouses at the corner of Forest Home and Morgan avenues will remain just that – unused – at least for now.

With questions about parking and the potentially unsightliness of two large food wagons being parked on-site going unanswered, the City of Greenfield decided to forgo any immediate action on Craig and Deborah Mengeling’s special use permit request to use at least one of the farmhouses as a food catering office.

The Mengelings also hoped to use the location as a spot to park their two food service trucks, and use part of the farmhouse at 5225 W. Forest Home Ave. as a living space. In addition, another portion of the lot would potentially be used to sell antiques and crafts.

At a Common Council meeting Sept. 18, alderpersons discussed concealing the food wagons with 8-12-foot fences, but there were concerns how such structures would fit in with the historic sense of the building. The Mengelings said it was important to them to preserve the

Mengeling told the city’s Plan Commission over the summer he hoped a second phase of the project would include an outdoor garden restaurant with 50-60 seats and grills to be used for community-style fish boils and chicken dinners.

Parking, however, at the location is limited and no plans have been set to meet the city’s minimum parking requirements.

Dr. James Rydlewicz, representing the Milwaukee Clinic of Orthopedic Surgery across the street at 5233 W. Morgan Ave. questioned the visual appeal of parking the trailers on site in plain site.

The Mengelings are expected to come back to the city with another proposal that could come in front of the Common Council in October.