By Press Times Staff

ASHWAUBENON – The Ashwaubenon Plan Commission and Site Plan Review Committee both voted Tuesday, Feb. 5, in favor of a new wireless telecommunications tower for Verizon.

The proposed tower would be built at 2190 S. Ashland Ave, just east of Collear Court.

Community Development Director Aaron Schuette said the property is zoned B-3 Community Business, where freestanding wireless communications towers are a conditional use within the zone.

Though 2013 Wisconsin Act 20 largely pre-empts local units of government from regulating those towers if they meet the requirements in state law, Schuette said there are certain site-specific items the applicant has agreed to with the following conditions required for approval:

• The village board must approve a conditional use permit for the wireless tower.

• Barbed wire on top of the fencing will not be allowed in that district.

• Arbor Vitae trees will be placed to the south, west and north sides of the fencing.

• Screening of the fencing must be maintained through the use of vinyl slats or other material of comparable opacity until the trees are a minimum of 7 feet tall.

Element sign

In other action, commission and committee members also favored an amendment to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) for The Element apartments to allow an internally lit sign on the corner of building one now under construction.

Schuette said the developer has agreed to dim the sign in the evening so as to not disturb the neighboring apartment buildings or their own residents.

The original language in the PUD did not allow the sign to be internally lit.

The PUD amendment for The Element and the permit for Verizon’s wireless tower are being forwarded to the village board for final approval Feb. 26.