Draft Chapter 2 of Ashwaubenon comprehensive plan outlines land‑use trends, redevelopment focus

Planning staff presented a draft of Chapter 2 (Land Use Background) of the Village of Ashwaubenon Comprehensive Plan at the Feb. 4 Plan Commission meeting, highlighting recent residential growth, limited developable land and planned opportunity‑area recommendations for future land‑use strategy.

Staff displayed the current land‑use map and a chart showing new residential development in the village since February 2015, which the presenter said reflects a recent policy shift toward denser development because the village is near build‑out. Staff reported the village’s most recent population estimate at about 17,500 residents, an increase of roughly 600 people over five years after about three decades of little population growth.

The draft chapter, staff said, will pair a land‑use inventory with targeted opportunity‑area recommendations for locations such as the Lambeau Field residential neighborhood, the riverfront and potential industrial redevelopment sites. The presenter said the second half of the land‑use chapter will dive deeper into opportunity areas and that transportation and intergovernmental coordination chapters are expected for the March meeting; staff estimated the comprehensive‑plan rewrite could be completed by April or May.

Commissioners praised staff work and thanked the planner for advancing the update; one commissioner asked whether agricultural areas lie within the Ashwaubenon School District (staff replied the area near the school district office is the portion inside the district). The presenter reminded the commission that the land‑use map is not a zoning map but a policy tool to guide the future land‑use plan and that the apartment and redevelopment recommendations will be coordinated with the economic development chapter.

No formal action was taken; the item was a presentation and discussion point directed to staff for follow‑up in subsequent meetings.