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Council delays final rezoning decision on Georgia Pacific's 500 Day Street site
Summary
After presentations from Georgia Pacific and rail and port stakeholders, the Green Bay Common Council voted to hold a rezoning decision for the 500 Day Street property until its April 15 meeting while the company completes negotiations with prospective buyers.
The Green Bay Common Council voted March 18 to hold action on a rezoning request for Georgia Pacific’s 500 Day Street property until the council’s April 15 meeting.
Georgia Pacific’s public affairs manager in Green Bay, Chris Brennan, told the council the company had “received best and final offers on the site and are actively moving ahead with negotiating contract terms,” and asked the council to delay a rezoning vote while the company and its potential buyers complete negotiations.
The delay came after public comment from the Fox Valley and Lake Superior rail system and others who urged the council to consider keeping an industrial option for the parcel. Brad (last name in transcript: Reimer) representing Fox Valley and Lake Superior Rail cited the city staff report and past zoning history and recommended that, if council decided to act, it amend the proposal to a light-industrial designation to preserve options for industrial uses adjacent to the railroad.
Council members pressed Georgia Pacific and city staff on whether the single legal parcel could be split to allow mixed zoning on different portions. Director Renier Wigg said the property currently is “one parcel” and that the “one zoning needs to go with that one parcel,” explaining the city could accommodate a northern portion being rezoned later, but that a legal description from the property owner would be needed to create two separate parcels.
Alder Willard Johnson and others said they supported continuing conversations with Georgia Pacific but were concerned a sale could close before the city had a chance to negotiate future use. Brennan said the company intended to continue discussions with the city but could not guarantee the timing of its internal reviews.
After council questions and brief public testimony, Alder Johnson moved to hold the rezoning and Alder DeLay seconded; the chair announced the ayes had it and the item was held over until the April 15 meeting.
Why it matters: The 500 Day Street parcel borders rail lines and industrial uses and has been discussed repeatedly for the city’s desired waterfront/downtown transition. A sale without zoning conditions could allow a buyer to pursue higher-intensity industrial uses that some council members and neighbors say would be incompatible with the city’s preferred downtown-oriented development.
What happens next: City staff and Georgia Pacific said they will continue discussions with potential buyers and return updates to the council; any zoning action will return for further council consideration starting April 15.
Votes and formal actions: The council held the rezoning decision until April 15; no final rezoning vote was taken March 18.
