Author: Kevin Boneske Special Writer

ASHWAUBENON – On Tuesday, October 26, the village committee approved the rezoning of three plots from the sports and entertainment district to the B-3 community business to build a 5,200 square foot project on the southwest corner of South Ashland Avenue and Mike McCarthy Road Holiday convenience store.

Community Development Director Aaron Schuette said that if the property is located elsewhere in the sports and entertainment district, he would not approve of replanning the property.

"However, looking at the surrounding land use-its location is facing South Ashland Avenue, the railway, the surrounding land use-there is a certain location (re-division of property) to B-3 to promote redevelopment. Meaningful of this property," he said.

Schuette said that the project has an eight tanker fuel island and an auxiliary car washer, and the existing dilapidated warehouse building will be demolished.

"This will significantly clean up the site," he said.

Schuette said the village's comprehensive plan determined that the area would allow commercial use.

He said that the site will not install diesel pumps for semi-truck, which is a concern of a nearby owner, who talked about the possibility of traffic congestion in the area at a public hearing.

"It may have a diesel pump for diesel vehicles, but it won't have a semi-trailer pump," Schuette said.

The board of directors also approved the site plan for the project.

Schuette said that the existing two lane entrances on Mike McCarthy Way will be used for convenience stores, and the third lane entrance is located in South Ashland near the southern property boundary, about 200 feet south of the intersection with Mike McCarthy Way.

Holiday’s real estate development manager Jim Goeppner said that the two curb cuts along Mike McCarthy Way are designed to create optimal traffic flow for vehicles entering and leaving the property.

The exterior finishes required in the site plan include stone siding that extends to the corners of the building near the bottom, a storefront window system, and a fiber cement siding system with hidden fasteners.

The approval conditions for the rezoning include not selling outdoor products, except for propane.

Village Mayor Mary Kardoskee said that she is happy that other items that may be sold, such as bags of salt and firewood, will not be left outside because the site is located at the main entrance of the Ashwaubenon sports and entertainment area.

The trustee Gary Paul said he was happy to see the holiday convenience store there.

"In general, I think this is a good plan," he said. "Anything is better than it is now."