By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
ASHWAUBENON – Rezoning three parcels from Sports & Entertainment to B-3 Community Business to construct a 5,200-square-foot Holiday convenience store on the southwest corner of South Ashland Avenue and Mike McCarthy Way was approved Tuesday, Oct. 26, by the Village Board.
“However, looking at the surrounding land uses – the location of it up against South Ashland Avenue, the railroad, surrounding land uses – it does make sense in this specific location (to rezone the property) to B-3 to facilitate the redevelopment of this property,” he said.
Schuette said the project with an eight-dispenser fuel island and an accessory car wash will demolish an existing dilapidated warehouse building.
“This will clean that site up pretty significantly,” he said.
Schuette said the village’s comprehensive plan identifies commercial uses as being allowable in that area.
He said the site won’t have diesel pumps for semi trucks, which was a concern of a nearby property owner who spoke during the public hearing about the possibility of traffic congestion in the area.
“It may have a diesel pump for diesel vehicles, but it will not have semi trailer pumps,” Schuette said.
The board also approved a site plan for the project.
Schuette said two of the existing driveway access points on Mike McCarthy Way will be used for the convenience store, with a third driveway access point on South Ashland near the south property boundary, approximately 200 feet south of the intersection with Mike McCarthy Way.
Jim Goeppner, real estate development manager for Holiday, said the two curb cuts along Mike McCarthy Way are designed to create the best traffic flow for vehicles entering and exiting the property.
Exterior finishes called for in the site plan include a stone-look wainscot near the base extending up the corners of the buildings, a storefront window system and a fiber cement wall panel system with concealed fasteners.
Conditions of approval for rezoning include no outdoor product sales, except for propane.
Village President Mary Kardoskee said she is glad other possible items for sale, such as bags of salt and firewood, won’t be left outside, because the site is located at the main entrance to Ashwaubenon’s Sports & Entertainment District.
Trustee Gary Paul said he’s happy to see the Holiday convenience store locating there.
“On the whole, I think it’s a good plan,” he said. “Anything’s better than what’s there right now.”