Suamico board sends proposed residential‑sewer zoning changes to public hearing after debate

The Suamico Village Board on Monday voted 6–1 to send proposed changes to the village’s residential‑sewer zoning code back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for final refinement and publication for a public hearing.

Andrew Condon, a planning commissioner who led the commission’s presentation, said the proposal would split the existing residential‑sewer category into three tiers — RS1, RS2 and RS3 — with progressively smaller frontage minimums and higher permissible density. “We were proposing to split residential sewer into 3 different zones,” Condon said, arguing the change would give the village “a toolbox” to attract development and add users to the water and sewer utility.

The presentation included visual examples from neighboring communities, and a fiscal example that used the Chambers Hills development to show how increased lot yield could raise assessed value and levy revenue. Condon presented model calculations showing a larger assessed base under tighter lot minimums and estimated a village share increase in levy revenue in the example.

Trustees and residents pressed on tradeoffs: Trustee Andrews and others questioned whether denser development would require more police, fire and public‑works services, and whether road and school capacity had been considered. Resident Thomas Wilhelm asked, “So has traffic flow been considered also?” Director of Public Works/utility staff said much of the discussion concerned new streets in new developments and that main thoroughfares and county roads already have traffic studies; sewer/water expansion would generally accompany new streets rather than require tearing up existing neighborhood roads.

Several speakers — including Realtor Jennifer Sunstrom and developer Pat Castor — urged the board to monitor outcomes and stressed that affordability and market factors drive builders’ decisions. “Housing costs have doubled in 5 years,” Sunstrom said, urging measurable goals and follow‑up if the ordinance is adopted.

After public comment and technical clarifications (including a staff note that some sewer billing has shifted from capacity‑based to load‑based charges), President Fenrazem moved to return the draft to planning and zoning for refinement and review by the village attorney, then publish it for public hearing. Trustee Romas seconded. Roll call was Andrews Aye, Eckert Nay, Neto Aye, McKeefrey Aye, Romas Aye, Stevens Aye, Fenrazem Aye; the motion carried 6–1.

Next steps: the board asked Planning and Zoning to refine language on items raised by trustees (signage, parking, chickens, masonry/appearance standards) and to identify mapped areas in the comprehensive plan where RS1/RS2/RS3 would apply. The ordinance will be reviewed by the village attorney before being published for public hearing.