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Ashwaubenon committee denies inflatables for NFL Draft activations, approves tent and other signage
Summary
The Site Plan Review Committee denied requests to place inflatable signs and a 20‑foot helmet at a proposed NFL Draft activation at 2001 Holmgren Way, citing precedent and pedestrian‑safety concerns; the committee approved a 10x10 tent for Uncle Mike's and the non‑inflatable elements of the sign package.
The Village of Ashwaubenon Site Plan Review Committee on April 2 denied requests for temporary inflatable signage at a proposed NFL Draft activation at 2001 Holmgren Way but approved the broader sign package excluding inflatables and a 10‑by‑10 Uncle Mike's tent.
Planning staff presented a site plan showing a series of activation areas and vendor spaces on the northern portion of the property. Proposed inflatable elements included a branded archway and an inflatable helmet. Applicant representatives and a vendor described the inflatables' size and anchoring: a TapSpring representative said the archway is "20 feet tall" and measures about "18 by 35" with an 8‑foot entrance, that the unit includes 11 anchor points and the vendor would supply concrete ballast he described as "£4,000 worth of concrete blocks" to secure it and that the inflatable is fire resistant. A representative from Cogent said the helmet activation would be anchored with four 55‑gallon barrels weighing roughly 440 pounds each, providing more than 1,000 pounds of ballast for the helmet.
Staff set recommended conditions for the overall package that were not tied to the inflatables: signage displayed no sooner than April 22, 2025 and removed no later than April 26, 2025; all inflatable signs (if approved) to be securely tethered and to use bike rack panels to separate pedestrians from tether stakes; and the proposed site plan must provide adequate ingress and egress for emergency vehicles.
Committee members expressed repeated concern that approving large inflatables would set a precedent for future events and could exacerbate congestion in a high‑pedestrian area on draft days. One committee member noted the expected high volume of visitors and shuttle buses during the draft and said perimeter crowd control and clear sight lines would be necessary if such activations were allowed. Another member said the committee had denied similar inflatable requests in the past and was reluctant to open the door now.
A motion was made to deny the inflatable components of the proposal and to approve the Uncle Mike's tent and the rest of the sign package. The motion passed. The committee asked staff to make clear that any non‑inflatable temporary signage that exceeds the 32‑square‑foot administrative threshold will still need site plan review approval before being placed.
