By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
ASHWAUBENON – A Planned Unit Development (PUD) overlay zoning district for a new 49,200-square-foot, four-story office building to replace an existing single-story structure at 2181 S. Oneida St. was approved Tuesday, Sept. 24 by the village board.
Nifong Realty sought the PUD amendment to tear down the building where its office is located just south of Sammy’s Pizza along Oneida Street to make room for a structure that will increase the current height limit of 36 feet to 55 feet and reduce the minimum green space from 10 to 7 percent.
Community Development Director Aaron Schuette said the building will include a drive-through canopy for a financial institution tenant and also have a top-floor gathering space, landscaping and a combination of on- and off-street parking.
To facilitate the development, Schuette said the village has agreed in principle to exchange some village-owned land with recently purchased land from Nifong Realty.
He said the PUD amendment is contingent upon formalizing a development agreement between Nifong Realty and the village.
Schuette said the increase in building density and reduction in green space is consistent with the comprehensive plan for the area to have a more urban setting.
Village President Mary Kardoskee said the new building will be “getting the downtown look to Ashwaubenon, which is what we’re trying to achieve.”
Nifong Realty held a neighborhood meeting about the project Aug. 28 at the Ashwaubenon Community Center.
Dave Holzem of Nifong Realty said the property is being redeveloped to better utilize the space with the four-story brick exterior structure.
Holzem said Nifong Realty will temporarily relocate its office elsewhere in the neighborhood during the project construction, which he expects will take about a year to complete.
He said he hopes construction will be able to start by the end of October and be finished by around September or October of next year.
Holzem said enough tenants have expressed an interest in locating in the building to start construction.