Ashwaubenon panel recommends denying PUD amendment for West Point Center over EMS capacity concerns
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Summary
The Plan Commission recommended denial of a PUD amendment that would add two senior-care buildings at West Point Center after the village public safety chief and several commissioners warned the new facilities could increase ambulance demand and strain a small department. The CSM tied to the project was later approved with conditions linking it to PUD approval.
The Village of Ashwaubenon Plan Commission on April 9 recommended denying a requested second planned unit development (PUD) amendment for West Point Center, 460 Marina Lane, after sustained questions about emergency service capacity and neighborhood impacts.
Staff described the amendment as a substantial change from the previously approved plan: instead of garden apartments and townhomes, the developer proposed adding a single-story community-based residential facility (CBRF) for assisted living and a three-story residential care apartment complex (RCAC) to sit along the river. Aaron Popkey, who spoke earlier on a different agenda item, had introduced the overall development concept during the meeting; developer Ted Hunt (developer and Ashwaubenon resident) later detailed market studies and financing constraints that led the team to favor a cluster of senior-supportive facilities rather than higher-density market-rate housing.
Public safety was central to the commission’s discussion. The Ashwaubenon Public Safety Chief (identified by role) told commissioners the department is small — roughly 51 of 56 positions filled — and presented ambulance call figures for context: about 2,400 total calls in 2024 with roughly 518 calls originating from a sample of 15 medical/care facilities, and about 2,263 total calls in 2025 with roughly 438 from those facility types. The chief said adding two additional care facilities could ‘‘tax our resources further’’ and increase reliance on mutual aid from neighboring jurisdictions such as Green Bay and De Pere.
Several commissioners echoed that concern, saying the change from the originally approved plan represented a material increase in calls for service and could have long-term budget implications for the village. One commissioner argued the change ‘‘doubles’’ the local burden compared with the original approval and said it failed to meet the village’s PUD objectives regarding a mixture of housing types and impacts on public services.
Developer Ted Hunt said the shift was market-driven and intended to create a connected senior-living campus where residents could move among levels of care (memory care, assisted living/CBRF, RCAC). Architect Kevin Havlovich, representing Alliance Construction and Design, told the commission that some aspects of the proposed project — and letters from the operator (Silverstone) for its other facilities — indicated on-site care at similar facilities reduced the need for off-site EMS transports in those cases.
After public comment and additional debate, a motion to recommend denial of the PUD amendment was made and seconded; the commission voted to call the question and the recommendation to deny carried. One member stated they would abstain during the vote.
Separately, the commission took up a two-lot certified survey map (CSM) for the West Point Center site that had been tabled earlier. Staff and the village attorney noted the CSM meets administrative statutory requirements but is conditioned on the PUD amendment approval; the commission subsequently approved the CSM with conditions, including county review and the PUD amendment condition.
What happens next: The commission’s action is a recommendation. The PUD amendment and associated approvals will go to the Village Board and Brown County review as provided by code; because the CSM approval is conditioned on PUD approval, recordation and final platting depend on subsequent approvals or further action by the developer.
