By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
ASHWAUBENON – Plans for a new Fortifi Bank along Cormier Road, north of the existing Gordmans department store, received the backing Tuesday, Sept. 4, by both the village’s Plan Commission and the Site Plan Review Committee.
The site plans for the project, submitted by Robert E. Lee and Associates, call for constructing a 4,650-square-foot building and the accompanying driveway, while a portion of the existing parking lot at the Gordmans’ Planned Unit Development site would be removed and reconstructed.
In addition to the existing parking lot to the west, the plans also call for a six-stall parking area to the east of the new building.
Plans for the one-story building include a drive-thru window on the south side with the structure’s building materials consisting of brick, stone and window glazing with concealed fastener architectural metal accent panels.
Ashwaubenon Community Development Director Aaron Schuette said the construction requires an amendment to the existing Planned Unit Development for the site, which the Plan Commission approved, while the site plan was approved for the new bank by the Site Plan Review Committee.
Schuette noted the small lobby size in the site plans is a reflection of the trend of electronic banking now taking place.
“It’s going to be more focused on back office-type facilities, whether it’s mortgage lending, commercial lending,” he said. “That’s what the offices are used for. The lobby areas of banks are getting smaller because they’re not used as much.”
Schuette said Fortifi currently has a small branch office in the village that is being leased off of Oneida Street.
Stadium rezoning
Plan Commission members also favored rezoning the site for Capital Credit Union Park south of the village hall from B-3 (Community Business) to P (Public Use).
Schuette said the rezoning includes about six acres of land where a new multi-purpose stadium is planned.
Plans for the stadium call for construction to be completed in time for next summer so that the Northwoods League’s Green Bay Bullfrogs could begin playing their home games there in 2019.