Green Bay board approves variances to site new downtown fire station

The Green Bay Zoning and Planning Board of Appeals voted to approve variances for setbacks and driveway width at properties along South Broadway that are part of a mixed‑use redevelopment including a new fire station.

City staff told the board the request affects parcels at 402 and 420 South Broadway and 419 South Maple Avenue and seeks relief from downtown setback rules and driveway opening limits to accommodate fire apparatus and floodplain elevation requirements.

John Leroy, City of Green Bay Community and Economic Development Department staff, summarized the code sections at issue and the variance request. He said the downtown standard requires at least 60 percent of a front façade to fall within 0 to 20 feet of the right of way (Section 44‑620, Table 44‑6 Sub F) and that driveway openings are limited to 30 feet at the right of way and 40 feet at the curb (Section 44‑173, Sub D Sub 3). Leroy said the petitioner sought a setback between about 25 and 66 feet for roughly 70 percent of one parcel (420 South Broadway) and a driveway opening of about 160 feet at the right of way and 170 feet at the curb.

Representing the project, Matt Buchanan of the city’s Community and Economic Development Department and the Redevelopment Authority of Green Bay described the site as a four‑parcel project being developed as a single campus. Fire Chief Matthew Adam testified that the site’s floodplain conditions require the fire station building to be elevated about 3 feet above the floodplain (residential/apartment components will be raised about 2 feet) and that raising the site increases driveway grades at the right of way. Adam said the physical dimensions and departure angle needed for large apparatus informed the requested driveway width and setback: “We really worry about that departure angle,” he said, adding that initial design work reduced a very steep 5‑degree slope to roughly 3 degrees and that the apron would be used for routine checks and light maintenance.

Matthew Cannon, representing the Redevelopment Authority, and developer Sig Stromenas (General Capital Group) said the wider driveway and greater setback apply only to the fire station portion of the larger building and that architects are treating the project’s exterior to make the two buildings visually cohesive along Broadway.

Board members discussed the five variance criteria, focusing on the site’s exceptional circumstances (the floodplain and need for elevated building pads), public safety needs, and potential impacts to nearby residential properties. One board member said the requested layout reduces the likelihood that trucks would be entering traffic directly from the street or backing into Broadway and described the variances as “necessary to preserve property rights” under the code given the unique site constraints.

A motion to approve the variances as requested passed by voice vote with all members present saying “aye.” The board noted staff would continue to work with the applicant to reduce the apron width and add landscaping where feasible.

The board packet and staff presentation list the code references raised during the hearing and note that portions of the site are in a regulated floodplain, requiring a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) or similar documentation as part of future permitting to demonstrate finished‑floor elevations above the floodplain.

With approval secured, applicants and staff said they will refine grading and driveway details with designers and continue coordination on CLOMR and site plan items prior to building permit issuance.