Plan Commission recommends permit for Wisconsin Public Service regulator station on Spirit Way

The Ashwaubenon Plan Commission on March 3 recommended approval of a conditional use permit for a Wisconsin Public Service natural gas district regulator station proposed on Spirit Way just north of West Main Avenue.

Aaron, a village staff member, told commissioners the station would sit at the north end of a parcel owned by Holka Brothers and would be accessed under an existing easement. He described the planned layout as a fenced gravel pad, a small building to house equipment and units, and both above- and below-ground pipeline connections.

Aaron said the developer changed the exterior finish to masonry "rather than just do a three-foot masonry wainscot, it's easier just to make the whole building masonry and not have that change of materials." He also said the fence will be black vinyl-coated chain-link without slats so that "public safety, police, and fire have access. They can see into the building and into the grounds, make sure that it's safe, there's no vandalism, and if there's a fire, smoke, or a natural gas leak, they can see that before they actually get to the property itself." Aaron said the Site Plan Review Committee approved the site plan as proposed.

Staff recommended, and the commission endorsed, several conditions intended to be reasonable and measurable under Wisconsin statute: above-ground components shall not extend outside a mapped 96-foot by 141-foot area; driveway access must be from Spirit Way with a driveway permit from the Ashwaubenon Public Works Department; external lighting and noise will be subject to village ordinances; gravel areas inside the fence must be maintained free of weeds; and the driveway apron and drive lane to the fence gate must be concrete to prevent gravel runoff onto Spirit Way. The conditional-use approval was limited to a natural gas district regulation station.

A commissioner moved to approve the permit with staff conditions; Jim Allen seconded, and the motion passed by voice vote. The commission's recommendation will go to the Village Board for a public hearing and action on March 24.

The commission did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting minutes; the action was taken by voice vote.