Plan Commission approves rezoning for 5730 North Ballard Road annexation

The Appleton City Plan Commission voted Feb. 25, 2026, to assign R‑1B Single Family zoning and Shoreland/Shoreland Wetland overlays to 5730 North Ballard Road, a 1.93‑acre parcel that was annexed into Appleton in January.

Lindsay Smith, a staff member, told the commission the property was annexed to allow the owner to connect to public utilities and that the city’s annexation procedure includes a 20‑day Department of Administration review and notice to the town of Grand Chute. She said staff mapped the property into the shoreland overlay and noted, “there’s about 5 square feet of shoreland wetland on this property,” meaning additional development requirements would apply if new construction were proposed.

A nearby resident, Sharon Fox of 5720 North Ballard Road, spoke during public comment. “We are still part of Grand Chute, but we are now surrounded by Appleton,” she said, and expressed concern about impacts to the hillside woods and a stream if future development occurs. Fox said she was representing an elderly neighbor who could not attend and is “having heart problems,” and that she came to gather information about what annexation might mean for nearby properties.

Commission discussion focused on the mechanics and purpose of annexation and the shoreland overlay; staff emphasized that the annexation assigned the property to the city’s lowest‑intensity zoning upon entry (agricultural) and that the action before the commission was to establish the zoning district consistent with current use and the comprehensive plan. The commission voted to approve the rezoning; the Mayor announced there were no opposing votes.

The rezoning changes the parcel’s allowable uses to single‑family residential subject to the shoreland and shoreland wetland requirements; the record shows the annexation became effective Jan. 27, 2026. The commission invited residents with further questions to contact city staff for more details.