Appleton committee approves design for Badger, Sixth, Eighth and Rankin reconstruction after public concerns

The Municipal Services Committee voted 4–1 on Sept. 22 to approve design plans for a scheduled reconstruction project covering Badger Avenue (College Avenue to Memorial Drive), West Sixth Street (Memorial Drive to State Street), Eighth Street (Pierce Avenue to Badger Avenue) and Rankin Street (Commercial Street to Wisconsin Avenue).

The vote moves the design forward to the full council for final authorization. Denise Fenton, alder from District 6 and chair of the committee, presided over the meeting and introduced the design-approval item after a brief public-comment period that drew neighborhood residents and business owners concerned about sidewalk width, parking, tree loss, stormwater runoff and snow maintenance.

Neighbors described the proposed 10-foot sidepaths on both sides of West Sixth Street as “over-designed” for a residential block and asked the city to confirm the design would not be extended further down Sixth Street. Brian DeGroot, identifying himself as the former Third Ward president, said residents “do not see that type of traffic on the sidewalks” and opposed the larger sidewalks and added concrete footprint. David Baer, owner of 217 South Badger Avenue,…