Council approves Vanderbrack street closure amendment; holds alley-closure request near 409 W. Walnut amid petition questions

The Green Bay Common Council amended and approved a planning commission recommendation on Oct. 7 to close a portion of Vanderbrack Street, and it held a separate public request to close an alley near 409 West Walnut until the Oct. 21 meeting to allow staff to verify petition signatures and statutory requirements.

Alder Prophet moved to amend the motion to adopt the plan commission's version of the Vanderbrack closure; the amendment was seconded, debated as a safety measure tied to railroad orders, and approved. Director Dusun (planning staff) told the council the closures were proposed in response to safety issues and orders from the railroad commissioner. Staff said traffic counts, accident history and the proximity of multiple tracks made adding warning devices infeasible and that closing the street was recommended after analyzing alternate routes and safety concerns.

On the separate item related to an applicant's request to expand a liquor license into a vacant lot next door (which would require closure/vacation of an alley), Alder Johnson said several property and business owners objected and that a petition accompanying the application might not meet state statute requirements. Johnson moved to hold the item until the Oct. 21 meeting to give staff and the applicant time to clarify the petition and related signatures.

City attorney'office staff (Mr. Buck) said the request had been vetted through the attorney's office and noted differences in notice and sign-off requirements depending on whether a request is characterized as a vacation or a closure and whether it primarily serves a private property owner. Mr. Buck said staff believed the application had aspects that benefit the city (access shifting toward Chestnut rather than Walnut), but that questions about signatures and statutory thresholds warranted additional time.

Council members asked staff to confirm whether the petition met the state statute's requirements for discontinuance or vacation and to contact property owners who said they may have signed under different premises. The motion to hold the alley-closure request until Oct. 21 passed by voice vote with "ayes" recorded.

The Vanderbrack closure amendment and subsequent approval reflected staff recommendations tied to railroad safety orders; the alley closure item will return after staff confirmation of the petition and statutory process.