Being a good neighbor is a business virtue bearing as much importance as superior customer service.

So when the mystery business that rammed its zoning change request through the Oshkosh Common Council last Tuesday succeeded in changing a residential area at 333 S. Washburn St. to one with potential for commercial development, it likely irked a few neighbors. Public comment prior to the council's decision suggested as much.

Although I'm not a resident of the neighborhood, what captured my attention on the issue was the inability of Company X to come forward to introduce itself to its potential new neighbors and city leaders. By veiling its identity under the shroud of the property owner, New Life Community Church Inc., and an unidentified development company handling the site work for Company X, integral questions remain unanswered at a crucial time in the development process.

After a half-decade in journalism - having attended literally more than 100 city council, planning commission, and village, town or county board meetings across Wisconsin - I've never once seen a zoning request approved that didn't have attached some specific plan for development or renovation.

The lack of detail in the plan is part of the reason the city plan commission first rejected the proposal April 17.

Perhaps, then, it was just as irresponsible for the council to make a decision on the zoning change without having any kind of a planned unit development.

There was no plan mapping how improvements on the property would be laid out. No idea where traffic would enter and exit the property. No mention of how precipitation runoff would be controlled on what assumably will be a property 85 percent covered in concrete and asphalt.

Even more importantly, will the sewer, water and roadway infrastructure leading to the property support Company X's needs? Or will the city have to make additional investment?

Would increased traffic possibly demand restructuring segments of Witzel Avenue near its intersection with Washburn Street?

Proponents of the zoning change argued Company X would bring an additional 200 to 300 jobs to Oshkosh. But as Councilor Melanie Bloechl astutely noted, without knowing what kind of business Company X does, no one knows what kind of jobs it will provide.

If Company X will offer 200 to 300 part-time jobs paying a wage of $5.50 an hour, will those positions be filled? If a bulk of the jobs remain vacant, will Company X survive?

Councilor Paul Esslinger said Tuesday he didn't find it appropriate to know what kind of business would be going into the property. He argued he's simply considering a zoning change, and his sole responsibility is to determine the best zoning for that property. Approval of a site plan, among other steps, still would have to occur before Company X can build.

All the above questions have no direct link to zoning. But they all have a critical link to the reason why the property owner is requesting a change in zoning.

Last Thursday, the attorney representing New Life Community Church left a message at The Northwestern saying the developer still was reluctant to step forward and identify Company X, which would put to rest many of the questions to which the council needs answers.

Not only is the change in zoning a component of maintaining Company X's confidentiality, but so too is the execution of the lease between the company and the developer.

To that end, when will city residents know what business wants to become a neighbor to other Washburn Street and Graceland Drive property owners? And will it be too late for the council to control any of the aforementioned variables at that time?

That's why any movement to change the zoning of a property means it's the utmost critical time to ask these questions.

And it's the utmost critical time for a good neighbor to step forward and answer them.

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