Brown County planner outlines update process for Ashwaubenon bicycle and pedestrian plan

Devon Yoder, a planner with the Brown County Planning Commission and the Green Bay MPO, told the Village of Ashwaubenon’s Bike & Pedestrian Committee that Brown County will lead the 2025 update to the village’s comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian plan and provide the service at no cost to the village.

“The ultimate goal is that that then provides the village with a document that you all can use to reference and look at and consider when considering new facilities, new policies, and that sort of thing related to bicycle and pedestrians in the village,” Yoder said, describing the plan’s role as a reference for future projects and policy decisions.

Yoder outlined a tentative schedule that would include about four committee review meetings and a sequence of tasks: baseline research, an online public survey (including a GIS‑based mapping tool for users to mark problem locations or desired improvements), targeted stakeholder interviews, draft goals and objectives, and then draft plan sections leading to an early‑fall review and formal adoption process. He said the work would be principally done by him, with occasional GIS assistance from his office.

Committee members emphasized targeted outreach to improve participation. Several members said past general public meetings drew few attendees and recommended a mix of an online survey plus targeted interviews with groups such as the school district, senior housing managers, apartment managers, business owners and regional running/walking groups that include Ashwaubenon residents. Yoder said he typically uses both general surveys and a small number (three to five) of focused stakeholder interviews to capture specific needs.

The committee discussed possible distribution channels for the survey: the village newsletter, a village listserv, the village’s social media accounts and mailed outreach if the committee wants to spend money on a mailing. Yoder said he will prepare a draft survey and share it with staff for committee review before distribution.

Committee members also asked that public safety review the draft survey because officers are “out there” and can point to problem locations; Lieutenant Ben Limbo was noted as expected to attend future committee meetings. The committee agreed to consider suggested stakeholder groups and to plan a March meeting to review a draft survey and timeline.

Next steps assigned in the meeting: Yoder will prepare a draft survey and timeline, staff will circulate the draft for committee review, and the committee will return in March with ideas about targeted stakeholder interviews and any specific sections of the existing plan they want to retain or revise. Yoder said that while he will attempt to complete the main work in 2025, the formal approval process could extend into early 2026 and that would not affect his workload.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the plan update at this meeting; the item was informational and the group set a March follow‑up to review the draft survey and meeting schedule.