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De Pere Plan Commission directs moratorium draft on hyperscale data centers and approves several zoning and planning measures
Summary
The commission directed staff to draft a 12‑month moratorium ordinance on hyperscale data centers, approved a $28,171 SmithGroup contract amendment, a certified survey map, three facade design exceptions for a Venture Avenue development, official‑map changes for a future street, and multiple zoning code amendments.
The City of De Pere Plan Commission on June 22 directed staff to draft an ordinance that would temporarily pause actions related to hyperscale data centers while the city completes a comprehensive plan amendment and related zoning work.
The direction—to create a moratorium for up to 12 months—passed after a staff presentation and public comment. Dan, a planning staff member, told commissioners the moratorium would be tied to finishing the comprehensive plan work and to legally required standards for temporary moratoria. "A moratorium must be tied to a legitimate government purpose," Dan said, and staff does not believe De Pere has been approached by a hyperscale developer to date.
In the same meeting the commission approved several items on the agenda. The body voted to: approve a $28,171 amendment to SmithGroup's contract to expand downtown master‑plan and comprehensive‑plan engagement; approve a certified survey map (three lots and an outlot) for property on Southbridge Road; grant three major design exceptions for a multi‑building project on Venture Avenue (with a condition that approval be voided if front facades are later reduced); add a future street to the official map for the Southern Bridge corridor; and adopt multiple technical and substantive amendments to the zoning ordinance (lot widths/setbacks corrections, new use table entries including payday loan and commercial car wash uses, EV charging provisions for parking ramps, street‑tree spacing revised to 50 feet, and other clarifications).
Public comment included a three‑minute statement by Rachel Leonard (953 Lawton Place), who identified herself as a Sustainability Commission member and urged that state‑level policy remain the lead venue while cautioning that a local moratorium should not foreclose other planning options. "I agree that the state level would be the most appropriate place to address some of these issues," Leonard said, while also urging the Plan Commission to preserve local options within the comprehensive plan process.
The commission handled the votes as voice votes on motions offered during the meeting; staff will return draft documents and proposed ordinances to the commission for July meetings or as part of the continuing comprehensive plan process. No final ordinance was adopted at the June 22 meeting.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of May 25, 2026 minutes — Motion carried (voice vote). - Direction to staff to prepare draft moratorium ordinance (up to 12 months) — Motion carried (voice vote). Staff will return a proposed ordinance for review and public hearing procedures. - SmithGroup contract amendment for additional downtown master‑plan engagement, $28,171 — Approved (motion carried, voice vote). - Certified survey map at 1800 Southbridge Road (three lots + outlot) — Approved (motion carried, voice vote). - Three major design exceptions for 2015 Venture Avenue (facade materials) — Approved with condition that approval be voided if approved front facades are later reduced (motion carried, voice vote). - Area development plan / official‑map addition for future streets (Southern Bridge corridor, Gilson property) — Approved (motion carried, voice vote). - June 2026 municipal code Chapter 14 zoning ordinance amendments (A–K technical and substantive changes) — Approved (motion carried, voice vote). - Comprehensive plan amendment to change future land use to multi‑family at 2108 Lawrence Drive / 1800 South Bridge Road — Approved by resolution (motion carried, voice vote).
What happens next
Staff will produce a draft moratorium ordinance and proposed zoning text for review and public notice. The SmithGroup contract amendment will be executed per the approved scope and funding split; staff will finalize the official‑map exhibit and return required ordinance text or resolutions to city council as required. The commission asked staff to return draft shipping‑container regulations for a separate discussion (no action taken on that topic at this meeting).
