The Wisconsin Supreme Court has denied a petition for review by members of the St. Croix Scenic Coalition in the Osceola Bluffs development case.

The order, issued Thursday, means that the Wisconsin Court of Appeals’ ruling is final, and developers can proceed with plans to build a 99-unit apartment complex in Osceola on the bluffs of the St. Croix River.

“We are pleased with the court’s decision and look forward to moving ahead with the Osceola Bluffs development,” Village Administrator Devin Swanberg said in a statement. “This project represents significant economic and community benefits for the Village, and we’re excited to take the next steps.”

Forest Lake-based developer Gaughan Cos. plans to build a new apartment complex on site of the former Osceola Medical Center, located at 301 River St., which has been vacant for more than 15 years.

“It’s been pencils down for 19 months,” said Dan Hebert, the company’s senior vice president of commercial accounts. “I am working on the project again as of today. My best guess would be (groundbreaking) sometime in 2025. We need more time to sort things out. We are very excited.”

The St. Croix Scenic Coalition in December asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review a November decision by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals stating that the St. Croix Scenic Coalition did not have standing to challenge the Village of Osceola’s approval of the apartment complex.

The appellate court reversed a Polk County Circuit Court judge’s ruling in April 2024 that the proposed Osceola Bluffs Development violated state St. Croix River protections and impedes views along the river bluffs. The appellate court also instructed the circuit court to dismiss a petition challenging the Village’s approval of the development.

The Supreme Court’s decision “essentially freezes out private citizens” from objecting to variances and conditional use permits to developers, said Einar E. Hanson, an attorney and board member of the Wild Rivers Conservancy.

“Ironically, because the decision is based on standing, the Wis. circuit court’s decision that the city of Osceola improperly granted zoning permissions for this development has not been reviewed on its merits,” Hanson said.