All Things Appleton

All Things Appleton This page is devoted to Appleton's public gov meetings. Wash. DC is far away, but we live here. Run by Jessica Menn Anderson.

In early June during the 06/09/2025 Appleton Area School District Board of Education meeting, the Board continued their ...
07/08/2025

In early June during the 06/09/2025 Appleton Area School District Board of Education meeting, the Board continued their ongoing discussion of how to address AASD’s $11 million structural budget deficit. (https://allthingsappleton.com/2025/04/17/board-of-education-reviews-presentation-on-causes-of-aasds-11-million-deficit-and-impact-20-million-referendum-would-have-on-property-taxes/) This discussion followed their initial discussion on 05/12/2025 (https://allthingsappleton.com/2025/05/22/board-of-education-discusses-strategies-to-deal-with-11-million-structural-deficit/) and was one in a series of discussions on the matter.

They reviewed their current sources of funding including state aid, state and federal grants, and local sources including local taxes. They reviewed how funding levels are set by the state and the restrictions of use on various types of aid and grants. The impact of inflation on the budget was touched on. They also once again talked about how the 30% reimbursement schools receive from the state for special education aid was inadequately low and how upping the level of reimbursement to 60% would solve a large amount of AASD’s deficit issues. This discussion took place before the state budget was approved which increased the special education reimbursement rate to 42% in the first year and 45% in the second year. (https://weac.org/state-budget-what-an-educator-needs-to-know/)

There was also discussion of the different types of referendums that could be pursued. AASD has traditionally always held one-time recurring referendums that provide ongoing increased taxpayer funding as opposed to non-recurring that increase local taxpayer funding for only a set number of years, but the financial benefit of recurring referendums ends up being cancelled out/overridden when the state increases the revenue ceiling.

It was stressed during the meeting that AASD’s budget deficit was not the result of poor fiscal choices. Board member Jason Kolpack stated, “the situation we're in is not a result of a lack of fiscal responsibility, or because we're being frivolous with the funds that are provided by the public. Simply the cost of things has gone up, and in fact, we're […] statutorily limited from spending more than the revenue limit, right?”

Toward the end of the meeting, Board member Nick Ross commented, “[W]e are not only talking about increasing revenues; we will be talking about possibilities to reduce expenses,” but Board member Ed Ruffolo expressed skepticism about the end result of that, stating, “I don't know how much efficiency we're going to find, because, both by philosophy, but also just by necessity, we've been very efficient these last 30 years.:

[In some respects I don’t really understand the point of these discussions because it sounds like the Board is just going to talk about it a bunch and then go to a referendum. Why not skip the endless discussion and just go straight to the referendum which everybody already knows is what they are going to do? But I guess the Board likes talking.]

A transcript of the discussion is available for download on the All Things Appleton website: https://allthingsappleton.com/2025/07/08/aasd-board-of-education-discusses-different-categories-of-funding-district-receives-and-types-of-referendums-they-could-pursue/

EQUALIZATION AID – Equalization aid (https://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/aid/general/equalization/overview) accounts for 53.4% of AASD’s general funding. Per AASD Executive Director of Finance Holly Burr, “At the state level, equalization aid helps balance property wealth disparities between districts. This aid increases as enrollment increases, but also decreases if enrollment declines. Likewise, it adjusts based on prior year usage or need. If we spend more in one year, we are eligible for additional aid in the next. The reverse is also true. This aid is subject to revenue limits and subject to the state budgeting process.”

The fact that equalization aid decreases if a district underutilizes it was important in relation to a referendum. If Appleton were to pass a referendum, that would increase the funds available to them but they would still need to make sure they spent all of their equalization aid money or else it would essentially look like they were overfunded and have their equalization aid decreased the following year.

Superintendent Greg Hartjes said they prioritize spending 100% of their equalization aid because if they don’t the difference has to be made up by taxpayers locally.

CATEGORICAL AID – Categorical aid (https://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/aid/categorical/overview) is aid targeted at specific programs or groups of pupils and can only be used for the designated activities. The District receives $742 per pupil or $10.4 million total.

SPECIAL EDUCATION AID – Special Education aid (https://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/aid/special-ed/sped-sap/overview) is state aid, per Ms. Burr, “reimburses a portion of the cost for educating and transporting pupils enrolled in special education. Eligible costs include salary and benefits for staff directly supporting a student's IEP, vendor costs for the same, and specialized transportation.” AASD received around $11.6 million in special education dollars during the 2024-25 school year.

Ms. Burr indicated that the state act that originally created special education funding initially said that reimbursement from the state was suppose to be at a rate of 66.7%. Currently, only 30% of the cost of paying for special education students is covered by the state with the remaining 70% being covered by the local school districts. This was because during the last budget, the state set aside a specific amount (sum certain) of money to go toward special education costs and that amount had to be spread out across all schools. AASD would prefer for the part covered by the state to be increased to 60% and for there to be no set bucket of money that was allocated for that purpose (sum sufficient); that way, all the schools could be reimbursed 60% for their actual costs instead of having to proportionally allocate across all schools a set amount of money that can run out.

Board member Ed Ruffolo pointed out that if the special education reimbursement rate was increased to a 60% sum sufficient reimbursement, that would result in AASD receiving an extra $11.6 million which would largely eliminate the District’s deficit.

At the time of the discussion, there was hope that this change would be made, but the state budget has now been set for the next two years and it increased the reimbursement rate to only 42% the first year and 45% the second year, nor was the funding changed from sum certain to sum sufficient.

REVENUE LIMIT – Per the Department of Public Instruction, the revenue limit “is the maximum amount of revenue that may be raised through state general aid and property tax for the General, Non-Referendum Debt (authorized after August 12, 1993) and Capital Expansion Funds.” (https://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/statistical/basic-facts/revenue-limits). State equalization aid is subject to revenue limits, but categorical aid (per pupil aid and special education aid) is not subject to the revenue limit. If equalization aid decreases the difference can be made up with local taxes which will increase the portion that local taxpayers have to shoulder.

At the time of the discussion, they were expecting the revenue limit to be increased to $325 per student which would have been an increase of 2.7% and result in $4,733,000 additional funds. The recently passed budget actually raised the revenue limit to $334 in the first year and $345 in the second year which is slightly more than their estimate. (https://weac.org/state-budget-what-an-educator-needs-to-know/)

Ms. Burr noted that the estimated 2.7% increase looked good on paper but in reality it didn’t even meet the Consumer Price Index which increased by 2.95% this last year. Additionally, Superintendent Hartjes pointed out that while AASD’s entire budget was around $250 million only a portion of which (roughly $115 million) was able to increase with the revenue limit increase; however, all of their costs would increase with the CPI, not just the costs that are covered by portion of the budget that can increase with the revenue limit.

Board member Jason Kolpack described the situation thusly: “[T]he situation we're in is not a result of a lack of fiscal responsibility, or because we're being frivolous with the funds that are provided by the public. Simply the cost of things has gone up, and in fact, we're statutory—statutorily limited from spending more than the revenue limit, right? Like, with some, you know, certain exceptions, but it's just if the funding mechanism does not keep up with the increase in cost, the only way to make that up is either to get more funding or to reduce services and reduce cost.”

Ms. Burr agreed, saying, “That is our single largest problem as the funding mechanism has not kept pace with expenses. We have not been frivolous. We are very fiscally responsible at the school district, but, yeah, bottom line is the funding formula simply is not keeping up.”

STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS – AASD receives 12.2 million from the federal government for general and special education operations and $3.3 million in state grants. While not the bulk of the District’s budget, they did offset the local tax burden and fund program enhancements; however, they often had restrictions attached and did not necessarily continue from year to year. Superintendent Hartjes noted that they would be losing $350,000 in Title 1 funds next year.

Ms. Burr said that they had not heard of any other significant cuts on the federal level, yet, but she was worried about what might happen with Medicaid-related funding.

Board member Ed Ruffolo noted that Omoladé Academy was funded through a five-year federal grant and was worried that might be cut or eliminated.

Finally, although the District pursued other grants, they could not use grants to fund an existing position or existing program. Grants needed to be used only for supplemental positions and programs, and if grant funding dried up for a specific position or program the District was not allowed to start using federal dollars to maintain that position and program.

OTHER LOCAL REVENUE SOURCES – AASD receives additional dollars through students enrolling from outside the District into AASD as well as through smaller gifts/donations/grants, and student fees. Ms. Burr noted that students that open enroll into AASD are not included in equalization aid or per pupil funding.

If a local school district wants to increase funding beyond what they are currently allowed to raise in taxes and receive from the state and federal government, they have to go to a referendum and ask the local taxpayers to approve an increase in funding beyond the revenue limit. There are two types of referendums:

RECURRING REFERENDUM – A recurring referendum is a one-time referendum that raises taxes forever (sort of) going forward. The problem is that the state allows school districts to only raised a certain amount of revenue per student which is called a revenue ceiling. Right now, that amount is $11,000 per student. If a recurring referendum is approved if/when the revenue ceiling set by the state ends up catching up to and outstripping the increased taxes from the referendum, then the benefit of the referendum goes away. Beyond that, a district that has a failed referendum is not allowed to get an increase in revenue for the three years following the failed referendum. (https://wisconsinexaminer.com/briefs/bill-would-allow-several-school-districts-to-benefit-from-raised-revenue-ceiling/)

NON-RECURRING REFERENDUM – A non-recurring referendum increases taxes/funding for a set number of years. Unlike a recurring referendum, the increase in taxes is not connected to a district’s base so is not impacted by changes to the revenue ceiling. However, the problem is that such referendums need to be held every time the tax increase is set to run out and if at some point the local voters decide not to pass a referendum, a district would be looking a sudden sharp decline in revenue. AASD has only ever held recurring referendums, but there are some districts that run them, typically every four or five years but up to for as long as 20 years. It was noted Racine just passed a 20-year non-recurring referendum.

[After listening to all of that, it seems to me it would be way more straightforward and fiscally responsible for the state to stop funding schools directly at all and simply provide a set dollar amount per student to be used in the manner their parents belief best meet their educational needs. Things are way too complicated now.

I also don't understand, given the budget issues, why AASD through the truancy initiative is putting in an outsized effort to bring in students who will be the most costly and will possibly not bring in any revenue.]

View full meeting video here: https://aasd.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=80
View full meeting agenda here:https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/aasd/ee877c4e-269f-11f0-9f54-005056a89546-2171d860-3ac4-49db-84a5-200d91432c4c-1749239393.pdf

The Safety and Licensing Committee is meeting 07/09/2025 at 5:30PM.As action items mostly consist of license-related ite...
07/07/2025

The Safety and Licensing Committee is meeting 07/09/2025 at 5:30PM.

As action items mostly consist of license-related items. They have a lot of license renewals, one new license application, a few premise amendments related to Mile of Music, one liquor license change of agent application for the alcohol license for Hank and Karen’s Pub and Grill; Henry, the license holder passed away, so ownership of the license needs to be transferred to Karen.

They will also be voting on a request to approve the Northeast Wisconsin Hazardous Materials Response Service Agreement with the Department of Military Affairs.

Beyond the action items, they will be holding 3 demerit point violation appearances. Foxtrot Saloon received 80 demerit points for dispensing alcohol to a minor, Lindo Michoacan received 50 demerits for not having a licensed operator of premises, and the Walgreens at 700 W College Avenue received 40 demerit points for not having a licensed operator on the premises. The holders of all three licenses are supposed to attend the meeting and explain to the committee what steps they are taking to decrease their risk of future violations, but many license holders do not attend such meetings, so we will have to wait and see if anyone shows up.

The committee will also be receiving several information items.

They will be receiving an update on the efforts to reimplement a truancy ordinance.

They will also receive information on recent alcohol license violation convictions. Walmart on Calumet, Scuba’s Pourhouse, Rascal’s Bar and Grill, and Appleton Liquor on Meade Street were all convicted of selling alcohol to minors. This is not the first time the Walmart on Calumet has had such a violation, and last year a store representative appeared before the committee to talk about steps they were taking in response to a conviction they received on 04/03/2024 for selling alcohol to a minor. (https://allthingsappleton.com/2024/05/26/safety-and-licensing-meets-with-representatives-from-3-businesses-regarding-alcohol-license-violations-2-other-businesses-refuse-to-send-representatives-to-speak-with-the-committee/)

Finally, Police Chief Polly Olson will be providing information to the committee about the Police Department’s request to spend $533,600 to replace 115 portable radios.

View full meeting details here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1306656&GUID=6F6CBE4B-E687-4BD0-9264-FCA174A962B5

The Community Development Committee is meeting 07/09/2025 at 4:30PM.They have two action items on the agenda.The first (...
07/06/2025

The Community Development Committee is meeting 07/09/2025 at 4:30PM.

They have two action items on the agenda.

The first (which has an associated public hearing) is a request to amend the 2021 Community Development Block grant action plan to allow the Appleton Housing Authority to use $37,000 it still has remaining on rental rehabilitation rather than homeownership assistance and homeowner rehabilitation. Per the memo from city staff, “During 2020, 2021, and 2022, due to low interest rates, AHA experienced a high volume of repayments from their clients. Due to the high volume of repayments, AHA was temporarily unable to spend their allocation from the City of Appleton and had to focus on spending program income. AHA has seen a reduction in the total number of sales and repayments in the last few years with higher interest rates, but the 2021 funds remain unspent.” This change would allow them to use up the money.

The second is a request to approve a variance to the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions for the Northeast Business Park to allow a minimum setback of 8 feet instead of 15 feet to parking for a proposed medical facility and office building on the corner of Goodland Drive and Conkey Street. Per the memo from city staff, “With the proposed medical facility and medical office building use, a greater demand for staff, patient and visitor parking is required per ordinance vs. industrial use which requires additional space. Parking areas will be landscaped according to meet municipal zoning requirements. The proposed use for this parcel was approved back in November 2015, therefore, allowing the parking requirements to reflect the use is acceptable.”

View full meeting details here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1309282&GUID=E0C01B1C-686C-41B5-B623-F88BEF4BDBF5

The Parks and Recreation Committee is meeting 07/07/2025 at 6:00PM.They have one action item on the agenda which is a re...
07/05/2025

The Parks and Recreation Committee is meeting 07/07/2025 at 6:00PM.

They have one action item on the agenda which is a request to approve the request from Hannah Ohayon, the Appleton Public Library’s current Artist In Residence, to install a temporary sculpture made out of pinecones in Veterans Memorial Park.

The Public Arts Committee took up this request last week and recommended approval of the request. (https://allthingsappleton.com/2025/07/03/public-arts-committee-recommends-approval-of-placement-of-temporary-pinecone-sculpture-in-veterans-memorial-park/)

View full meeting details here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1306654&GUID=EFA095F7-E318-417B-B488-EF17D5DB2F18

The Finance Committee is meeting 07/07/2025 at 5:30PM.The agenda seems fairly straight forward with 3 requests to award ...
07/05/2025

The Finance Committee is meeting 07/07/2025 at 5:30PM.

The agenda seems fairly straight forward with 3 requests to award various contracts and 2 requests to approve a sole source agreement.

The contract awards include:

*An Engineering Bidding and Construction Services Contract to McMahon as part of Water Tower Booster Pump Improvements for a total including contingency of $30,800.
*The Unit DD-25 contract to Mackville Quarry Grading and Capping for $150,795.19. [It’s not clear from the documents attached to the agenda what exactly this contract is for, but it appears to have something to do with the stormwater system.]
*The Summer Street Lift Station Replacement Project contract to Advance Construction, Inc in an amount including contingency of $1,283,550.

The two sole source agreements include:

*A request from the Police Department to approve a sole source agreement with Baycom and Motorola Solutions for 115 portable radios. If the agreement is approved and accepted before 07/31/2025 the Police Department will receive a discount of 17/8% on the radios.
*A request from the Utilities Department to approve the sole source purchase of a Wastewater Treatment Plan phosphorus analyzer from William Reit LTD for a total cost not to exceed $49,845. William Reid LTD is the only local authorized distributor of the part they wish to purchase.

View full meeting details here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1314423&GUID=7E96FCDE-19B7-4855-8663-633036477566

The Municipal Services Committee is meeting 07/07/2025 at 4:30PM.Nothing stands out as particularly controversial or rem...
07/05/2025

The Municipal Services Committee is meeting 07/07/2025 at 4:30PM.

Nothing stands out as particularly controversial or remarkable.

They will be voting on a couple of agreements related to the I-41 improvement project as well as a revision to the state/municipal agreement related to the Lawe Street canal bridge project and a design contract associated with that Lawe Street bridge project.

They will be voting on a couple occupancy permits, one for Heid Music to place a brass memorial placard on a bench at the corner of Durkee Street and college Avenue and one for Appleton Downtown Inc to place their parklet on Washington Street near Appleton Street.

View full meeting details here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1318098&GUID=EC6C0C41-8361-41D0-B6A3-6963ED59BEF6

Happy Independence Day. 🇺🇸
07/04/2025

Happy Independence Day. 🇺🇸

The Public Arts Committee is meeting 07/02/2025. The one item on the agenda was a request from Hannah Ohayon, the Applet...
07/03/2025

The Public Arts Committee is meeting 07/02/2025. The one item on the agenda was a request from Hannah Ohayon, the Appleton Public Library’s Artist in Residence Program, to create and place a temporary sculpture out of pinecones in Veterans Memorial Park. The committee voted unanimously to recommend the request be approved.

A transcript of the discussion is available for download on the All Things Appleton website: https://allthingsappleton.com/2025/07/03/public-arts-committee-recommends-approval-of-placement-of-temporary-pinecone-sculpture-in-veterans-memorial-park/

The Appleton Public Library runs an Artist-in-Residence program. (https://apl.org/AIR/) APL describes the program thusly: “Each residency lasts three consecutive months. Artists provide three engagement events (e.g. workshops, demonstrations, lectures) and display art in our gallery. Artists receive a $600 honorarium and up to $250 for program supplies (funded by the Friends of the Appleton Public Library), coordinated workspace, and promotion of art and residency through our communication outlets.”

This quarter’s artist in residence is Hannah Ohayon an artist who creates art by placing nature-based items on the ground in patterns such as lines, spirals, and circles. (https://www.instagram.com/hannahaohayon/) She would like to hold a community event on 07/24/2025 from 5:30PM-7:30PM (subject to change depending on the weather) in Veterans Memorial Park in which she will work with 30 community members to lay pinecones out in a pattern on the ground in a wooded area of the park. (https://appleton-wi.whofi.com/calendar/event/1275020?method=embed) The pinecones would be gathered in the park and supplemented with other pinecones that she gathered elsewhere.

The committee reviewed the request and asked a number of questions.

Committee member Beu Vang asked what the meaning of the pattern was and was told it had no meaning; it was just a pattern.

He asked if the event was associated with veterans and was told it was not; the event was merely taking place in the newly renamed Veterans Memorial Park.

Committee member Elyse-Krista Mische asked if gloves would be available for participants. Staff member Lily Paul responded, “So, I think with the glove one, it would be in part of the like the calendar invite saying, like, bring or be aware of that you're gonna be working with this. Bring something that you would need to handle them.”

Ms. Mische also asked from where the additional supplemental pinecones would be sourced (and specifically wondered if they would come from Hobby Lobby) and if there was any concern about bringing them into the park. Additionally, she wanted to know if the pinecones would be picked up at the end of the event of “left naturally to kind of dissipate on their own?”

Ms. Paul responded that the Parks and Recreation department did not have any concerns about pinecones being brought in. The pinecones would be sourced from nature, and “since they are sourced from nature, leaving them would be also fine.” [Technically speaking, pinecones from Hobby Lobby originate in nature also.]

Committee member Vang wanted to know if water would be available to participants so that heat stroke, particularly in children, could be avoided. He was told that registration was capped at 30 participants and although children were welcome the event was intended more for adults. Per Ms. Paul, “If adults do bring a child, that's fine, but having water is a consideration that they will make.”

The committee ended up voting unanimously to recommend the request be approved.

[I doubt this write-up captures the very “Waiting For Guffman”-esque quality of this meeting or the inherent level of absurdity in someone seeking approval to lay out pinecones on the ground of a public park and everybody pretending that it’s genuine art. But at the same time, if this is the process then this is the process and I’m glad the committee members are trying to carry out their duties conscientiously. I will say, it’s a small thing, but I’m not sure the details of how the event will be run (i.e. whether the participants will be provided gloves and water) is within the purview of the committee. I thought they strictly had oversight over the artistic aspect of the request.]

View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1317280&GUID=76325815-C40E-48D6-A942-A406AA1F3409

Today is the first Wednesday of the month which means normally a Common Council meeting would be taking place this eveni...
07/02/2025

Today is the first Wednesday of the month which means normally a Common Council meeting would be taking place this evening. However, it is also the week of Independence Day which means that the Common Council meeting is cancelled.

Next week the committees will meet again and then the Common Council will meet on 07/16/2025 and take up all the items voted by committees from 06/23/2025 to 07/11/2025.

The Utilities Committee met 06/24/2025. Most of the meeting was taken up with an update on the Northland-Bellaire Flood ...
07/01/2025

The Utilities Committee met 06/24/2025. Most of the meeting was taken up with an update on the Northland-Bellaire Flood Study (https://allthingsappleton.com/2025/06/27/utilities-committee-receives-update-on-northland-bellaire-flood-study-2/), but they did have a couple action items as well. One was a request to award the 2025 sanitary and storm sewer cleaning and televising contract, and the other was a request to approve a contract amendment pertaining to the wastewater treatment plant solids dewatering equipment upgrades project which actually reduced the overall cost by $5,461. Both items were approved unanimously with minimal discussion.

A transcript of the discussion is available for download on the All Things Appleton website: https://allthingsappleton.com/2025/07/01/utilities-committee-recommends-approval-of-sewer-cleaning-and-televising-contract-5000-reduction-for-wastewater-treatment-plant-project/

UNIT F-25 SANITARY AND STORM SEWER CLEANING AND TELEVISING CONTRACT – This was a routine item. The city cleans and televises a certain number of sanitary sewers and storm sewers every year. This year, the lowest bid came from Green Bay Pipe and TV, LLC in the amount of $307,500. The committee did not have any questions or comments and voted unanimously to recommend the item be approved.

CONTRACT AMENDMENT #2 FOR PHASE 1 SOLIDS DEWATERING EQUIPMENT UPGRADES FOR A DEDUCT TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,461 DECREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM $352,872 TO $347,411 – A company called McMahon is providing engineering services for the Wastewater Treatment Plan’s phase 1 Solids Dewatering Equipment Upgrades Project. The scope of the project changed during the preliminary engineering phase which ended up reducing the overall cost of the engineering services by $5,461.

Alderperson Vered Meltzer (District 2) commented that it was nice to see a contract cost going down and Utilities Director Chris Stempa responded, “Yes, you're right; you normally don't see a credit. And I'll just add that this is why we work with good engineers. They're not perfect, and when they recognize that there is maybe a slight design change in a large remodel project, they're crediting the project accordingly. So, I appreciate that.”

The committee voted unanimously to recommend the contract amendment be approved.

View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1314145&GUID=825F0F84-67D8-4C8A-BDB1-B4ED97054D10

The Community Development Committee met 06/25/2025. Most of the meeting was taken up with the 2024 Tourism Impact Report...
06/30/2025

The Community Development Committee met 06/25/2025. Most of the meeting was taken up with the 2024 Tourism Impact Report (https://allthingsappleton.com/2025/06/28/community-development-committee-receives-2024-tourism-impact-report-expo-center-debt-on-track-to-be-paid-off-early/), but they did also vote on one action item which was a request to remove two parcels located near OO and Highway 441 from the Northeast Business Park and remove all business park-related deed restrictions and covenants. This was done in order to allow commercial, rather than industrial development of the parcels.

The committee voted 4-0 to recommend the request be approved.

A transcript of the discussion is available for download on the All Things Appleton website: https://allthingsappleton.com/2025/06/30/community-development-committee-recommends-approval-of-removal-of-parcels-from-northeast-business-park-move-will-facilitate-development-of-commercial-property-on-oo-near-highway-441/

The two parcels in question are located along OO just west of Highway 441. The owner also owns additional land adjacent to these parcels some of which was recently annexed into the city from Grand Chute. The location of all of these parcels near Northland and Highway 441 provides high visibility and easy access, so the owner wants to develop it all for commercial use rather than industrial.

The City Plan Commission approved a request to rezone all of the parcels to C-2 Commercial District (https://allthingsappleton.com/2025/06/26/city-plan-commission-approves-rezoning-and-certified-survey-map-for-land-near-northland-and-441-will-facilitate-construction-of-77000-square-foot-multi-tenant-industrial-style-building/); however, regardless of the rezoning, the two parcels before the Community Development Committee were still part of the Northeast Business Park and subject to the deeds and restrictions of the industrial park which were all industrial-based so not conducive to development of commercial properties. As a result, the developer wanted to release the parcels from the business park and associated deeds and covenants.

City Economic Development Specialist Lily Paul told the committee that the deed restrictions for the industrial park had been created by the city and provided stricter standards regarding things like appearances, setbacks, and noise than the city’s regular zoning code. But, even when released from those restrictions, the developer would still need to abide by the city’s overall zoning code.

Ms. Paul also noted that there was justification for removing these properties from the business park. There was already a lot near the corner of OO/Conkey/Winslow, directly next to the properties under consideration, that was zoned commercial and was not part of the industrial park. The city could use that as justification for removing these other parcels and creating a new commercial corridor in that area.

The committee voted 4-0 to recommend the item be approved.

View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1303936&GUID=627D2663-4BAC-4CC9-9740-2F584642BAE8

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