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Council approves Red Smith mixed‑use PUD after hours of public comment and amendments
Summary
After hours of public testimony and several failed and adopted amendments, the Common Council approved the Kosmoski familyPUD for the Red Smith area with conditions limiting multifamily to 160 units and requirements for future review.
The Green Bay Common Council on April 14 approved a planned unit development (PUD) proposed by the Kosmoski family for the Red Smith neighborhood after a lengthy public hearing and a sequence of amendments and roll-call votes.
The PUD covers roughly 167 acres in the city—s northeast and proposes a mix of single‑family lots, duplexes and multifamily apartments. Supporters including developers and housing advocates called the plan an opportunity to add housing variety to the city. Opponents from the adjacent Red Smith neighborhood raised concerns about wetlands permitting, school capacity, traffic on Sussex Road and the scale and placement of R3 (multifamily) zoning.
Why it matters: Council members said the project addresses long‑running housing supply shortages but also acknowledged local residents— concerns about traffic, environmental permitting and neighborhood character. The council imposed a numeric limit on multifamily units and required additional work by staff and the developer before full buildout.
What the council did: The first amendment — to remove the R3 multifamily overlay entirely — failed on a 6-6 tie. A later amendment to cap the R3 units at 100 also failed 6-6. Council then approved an amendment to cap multifamily units at 160 (vote 9-3). With that amendment in place, the council approved the PUD as amended.
Public testimony: Dozens of residents and stakeholder representatives addressed the council. Kent Bond, who said he represents hundreds of neighborhood households, argued against rezoning and called for more careful review of wetland and endangered‑species permits: "We ask you to listen to your own guidance. This zoning is incompatible and thus our community requests that you reject this ordinance," he said. Connor Kosmoski, who spoke for the family developing the property, described a phased plan that begins with single‑family lots and later extends utilities toward the multifamily area; he said the family intends long‑term stewardship of the land.
Council direction and conditions: The approval includes explicit direction that the developer and staff continue coordination on wetlands/stormwater permitting, traffic and the possibility of phased development. Councilmembers repeatedly asked staff and the developer to pursue design changes that reduce neighborhood impacts and to return with amendments if permit reviews require it.
Next steps: The approved PUD can be amended by the applicant later; the council left staff and the developer room to negotiate details such as road design and the management of wetland buffers, but the 160‑unit cap remains a council condition on the current approval.
Votes at a glance: Amendment to remove R3 overlay — failed (6–6). Amendment to limit R3 to 100 units — failed (6–6). Amendment to limit multifamily to 160 units — approved (9–3). Final approval of the PUD as amended — approved (9–3).
Community reaction: Opponents said environmental reviews and traffic studies should be completed before rezoning; supporters said the plan will add needed housing types. Councilmembers urged continued neighborhood engagement and additional staff oversight of permitting and infrastructure impacts.
