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Plan commission recommends adding Algoma Alleyway to pedestrian mall ordinance
Summary
The Plan Commission voted to recommend amending Chapter 27A, Section A10.2 of the Oshkosh municipal code to designate the Algoma Alleyway as a pedestrian mall and adopt associated regulations; the change follows a $32,750 grant to activate the alley.
The Oshkosh Plan Commission on May 6 voted 7-0 to recommend text amendments to Chapter 27A, Section A10.2 of the Oshkosh Municipal Code to add a pedestrian mall designation for the Algoma Alleyway in downtown Oshkosh and to set regulations for that designated space.
Staff reported the City of Oshkosh, working with the Downtown Oshkosh Business Improvement District (BID), applied in 2023 to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Vibrant Spaces program and was awarded $32,750, with the BID contributing a match, to activate a specific alleyway on Algoma Boulevard. Staff said the alleyway is currently a public right-of-way with utilities underneath and that the ordinance language is necessary to formally designate the alleyway as a pedestrian mall and to specify which vehicles (authorized maintenance, delivery when actively engaged in deliveries, and emergency vehicles) may be present.
Commissioners asked technical questions about delivery access, emergency-vehicle language and redundant wording in the redlined ordinance; one commissioner pointed out duplicate references to emergency vehicles in the draft text and staff acknowledged the redundancy as a typographical issue in the ordinance language. Commissioners also discussed that the alleyway currently contains murals and mechanical equipment that may need screening if the space is to be more engaging to the public; one commissioner described the alley as a “work in progress.”
No members of the public spoke during the public comment period. The commission voted to adopt staff findings and recommendations and forward the ordinance amendment to the next stage of review; roll-call recorded Miss Prowt, Mister Rucker, Council member Bulow, Mister Bevulbul, Miss Davey, Mister Lowenstein and Chairman Perry voting aye.
The amendment as discussed would add the Algoma Alleyway to the municipal pedestrian mall section and specify allowable vehicle types and use conditions; staff said further design and activation work tied to the WEDC grant is planned.
