Plan board approves Titletown District
ASHWAUBENON – With developers eagerly awaiting the go-ahead, the Green Bay Packers' Titletown District took another step toward reality.
The Ashwaubenon Plan Commission on Tuesday gave its final approval to Phase 1 of the planned 35-acre commercial/recreational/residential development west of Lambeau Field. The plan will go before the Site Plan Review Committee Monday and the village board on Tuesday.
Aaron Popkey, Packers director of public affairs, said construction could begin soon if approved next week. "Later this month we'd see some of the work taking place," he said.
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.
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.
Phase 1 consists of 21 acres, including six acres of the planned 10-acre public plaza. The Packers have said they will work on the remainder of the project once they get the anchors and plaza under way.
The plan calls for the anchors to open by the beginning of the 2017 NFL season.
The Plan Commission did insist that Lodge Kohler put a sidewalk in front of the hotel on the west side of South Ridge Road. Submitted plans did not have a sidewalk on that side of the street. Jeff Dedering, project manager for Kohler Co., said the hotel was trying to achieve a certain aesthetic that also would screen ground-level suites.
"It is a gorgeous look without the sidewalk, but we have to balance that with the safety of the people," said village president Michael Aubinger.
The commission said the sidewalk could be flush to the street, using the village's right of way, and still allow room for landscaping that would screen the hotel.
Dedering said after the meeting that Kohler would work out something with the village.
He said they were "designing to a box we thought we were designing to. Now we'll have to scramble."
Contact rryman@greenbaypressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter @RichRymanPG, onInstagram at rrymanpgor on Facebook at Richard Ryman-Press-Gazette. Or call him at (920) 431-8342.
Titletown District approval schedule
» 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.
