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Plan Commission endorses shared vision for West College Avenue; multi-jurisdiction plan moves forward
Summary
The Plan Commission voted to adopt a resolution supporting a shared vision for the West College Avenue corridor, a 2.5-mile, multi-jurisdictional planning effort spanning the City of Appleton, Town of Grand Chute and Outagamie County; the resolution asks partners including Wisconsin DOT to consider community priorities before engineering design.
The Appleton City Plan Commission on Sept. 24 adopted a resolution supporting a shared vision for the West College Avenue corridor and committing the city to a community-driven planning approach before roadway engineering begins.
Lindsay (staff member) described the project as a collaborative planning effort that includes the City of Appleton, the Town of Grand Chute and Outagamie County; she emphasized that a portion of College Avenue is under Wisconsin Department of Transportation jurisdiction because it is a state highway. Lindsay said the corridor covers about 2½ miles and links the airport and downtown; staff held targeted community engagement in summer 2025 and convened a coalition of government agencies and local stakeholders that included Valley Transit, Pillars, COTS, the Boys & Girls Club and the Regional Planning Commission.
The vision document, included in the meeting packet, sets a high-level statement and seven goals developed from community engagement (safety, connectivity, accessibility, identity, pride, market viability and intentionality) and outlines four focus areas: creating a pathway for everyone, defining the corridor’s character, integrating green infrastructure and transforming community development. Lindsay said the plan prioritizes pedestrian and bicycling connections, stormwater management, streetscape and placemaking, coordinated design across municipal boundaries and a focus on minimizing displacement of existing lower‑income residents along the corridor.
Staff described Phase 1 (visioning and engagement) as complete and identified Phase 2 as a medium‑to‑long‑term design and engineering phase, with the next five years focused on roadway design and partnership discussions with Wisconsin DOT and other jurisdictions about funding and implementation. Lindsay said, “We see College Avenue as a welcoming part of the Fox Cities where people live, work, and come together.”
The commission voted to adopt Resolution 2020-5-14 (agenda item 25-10-99) by voice vote with no opposition. Staff noted the resolution will also be considered by the Town of Grand Chute and had already been presented to Outagamie County.
Commissioners and staff cautioned that implementation will be incremental and may occur in segments over several years as funding and multi‑agency coordination are secured. The resolution expresses the city’s support for the shared vision and positions staff to pursue design, funding conversations and intergovernmental coordination.
