Titletown District halfway to approval
ASHWAUBENON – Titletown District is halfway to approval.
The Ashwaubenon Village Board and the village Site Plan Review Committee each gave preliminary approval to the Green Bay Packers' plans for a 35-acre commercial/recreational/residential development west of Lambeau Field. The Plan Commission gave its preliminary approval Feb. 9. All three boards will have to consider the matter again for final approval.
Titletown District's announced anchors include Lodge Kohler, a four-star hotel and spa; Hinterland Brewery; and a Bellin Health sports medicine clinic. Initial investment in the project, including land acquisition and infrastructure improvements by the Packers, is estimated at $120 million to $130 million.
The district is bordered by Lombardi Avenue, South Ridge Road, Marlee Lane and Brookwood Drive. In the middle of the district will be 10 acres of public space that includes a football field-sized green space, a large skating pond and more. It also will have 180,000 square feet of additional commercial space on the north side of the district, along Lombardi Avenue and Marlee Lane, and as many as 70 townhouses along Brookwood Lane.
The plan calls for the anchors to open by the beginning of the 2017 NFL season.
The village gave preliminary approval to Phase 1, which consists of 21 acres, including 6 acres of the planned 10-acre public plaza, according to Todd Gerbers, village building inspector/zoning administrator.
At the Plan Commission hearing earlier in February, several neighbors spoke about concerns they had over the relocation of a part of True Lane, but no members of the public spoke at either of Tuesday's meetings.
If given final approval by the village board March 8, construction is expected to begin in mid- to late March. Developers are especially eager to get the five-story hotel under construction so that in can make the Fall 2017 opening.
Michael Cantor of Sterling Project Development, representing the Packers, said results of a study on the feasibility of a pedestrian tunnel under South Ridge Road to connect Titletown District with Lambeau Field should be available about mid-March.
Addressing another pedestrian concern, Village President Mike Aubinger said planners were determining whether they could extend a sidewalk from Lombardi Avenue to Valley View Drive on the west side of South Ridge Road. Lodge Kohler comes close to South Ridge Road for part of that stretch, but Aubinger said moving some utilities might provide enough room for a sidewalk.
Contact rryman@greenbaypressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter @RichRymanPG or on Facebook at Richard Ryman-Press-Gazette. Or call him at (920) 431-8342.
Titletown District approval schedule
» March 1, 5:30 p.m., Ashwaubenon Plan Commission, Village Hall, final consideration of PUD.
» March 7, 3 p.m., Ashwaubenon Site Plan Review Committee, Village Hall, review of PUD and project details.
» March 8, 6:30 p.m., Ashwaubenon Village Board, Village Hall, public hearing and final consideration on vacating street; hearing and final consideration of PUD.
