ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A proposed hotel in Ashwaubenon has many community members worried about potential changes on Oneida Street. The plan is for a five story, 100 room Cambria Hotel and Suites. While officials have outlined a need for hotels in the area, there is concern particularly over the building’s height.
With less than two years to go until the NFL Draft in Green Bay, the village of Ashwaubenon is looking to add space for visitors.
“We’re becoming a pretty big entertainment hub,” Ashwaubenon Development Director Aaron Schuette said. “It’s more than just the Packers now. You look at the Resch Center, Resch Expo, EPIC Event Center.”
Schuette said the village has a 36 foot height limit for new buildings. The developers of the proposed hotel are requesting a Planned Unit Development, or PUD, to allow a height of 70 feet. Many neighbors and nearby businesses believe that’s not a good idea.
“We have concerns about traffic, parking,” Bert Slinde with The Element Apartments said. “We’ve had calls saying ‘how’s our view going to be affected, how’s our view going to be affected.’”
“I’ve been in business here in Ashwaubenon for a long, long time and I think the height is probably not conducive to the location that you’re putting it in,” Frame of Mind Owner Bob Klenke said. “I don’t have a problem with height going back a little further somewhere else.”
The developers themselves are trying to figure out a way to make it work, although they don’t agree with the arguments that some residents are making.
“We’re having a tough time trying to wrap our heads around the narrative that our hotel along Oneida drive will somehow lower property values,” Developer Alex Padrnos said. “We’re looking forward to readdressing and see if we can reconfigure out site plan to make it work.”
The village’s Site Plan Review Committee voted 5-1 Tuesday to recommend denying the PUD. Among those who voted to deny the proposal was Village President Mary Kardoskee.
“A mass exodus of housing,” Kardoskee said. “I don’t want our residents to feel they have to sell their house because they don’t want to live next to a five story hotel.”
The lone vote in support came from Trustee Gary Paul, who hopes the developers find a way to lower the height. But he still believes it’s a project beneficial to everyone.
“Without development we don’t have a tax base, we can’t give you the services we’re giving all you people in this community,” Paul said. “Ashwaubenon is one of the only communities in this area that offers what we’ve got.”
The hotel plan also includes a first floor restaurant and rooftop deck.
Ashwaubenon’s plan commission also had the PUD on its agenda for tonight. They decided to table discussion until a special meeting on September 19, to give the developers more time to consider alternative plans.
