Street talk: Green Bay's east side story unfolds By Tom Murphy News-Chronicle G & H Properties, a corporation formed by Greg and Hub Joski, has received Green Bay Plan Commission approval for a planned district development on the city's booming east side. The 25-acre site is a couple of blocks south of the intersection of Finger and Erie roads. It's buffered, by rule, from existing single family and apartment developments at and south of the intersection. The PCD is west across Erie Road and south of Holy Martyrs of Gorcum property. The southern boundary, which probably will provide primary access to the retail development, is the eventual eastern extension of Mason Street. Planning Director Rob Strong and Bill Lockery, senior planner, said there are touch limitations on the PCD. In addition to the buffer zones from residential property, the agreement says buildings may not be more than 75,000 square feet without specific individual approval. And none may be more than two stories high. Plus, retail operations must be closed between 12 midnight and 6 a.m. An annual review is required until the project is underway. Approval may be withdrawn during the review process. Across Finger Road, the new owners of the former Woodside Golf Course have changed the name to The Woods. Local Realtor Jeff Harrill (as reported here last fall) and PGA Pro Bill Lindmark of Shorewood are among the new owners. Lindmark is running The Woods course and pro shop. We understand a Kewaunee County contractor also is in the ownership group. IT TAKES PLANNING It takes great planning: (1) To send postcards to residents over whose property crop dusters will zoom to spray and battle the pervasive gypsy moth. We ask: Why stop with the overflight area when the noise from a necessarily over-powered plane travels well beyond the target? The first flights, over northeast De Pere (roughly over Ridgeway Boulevard) a couple of weeks ago, happened without the media being notified. Thus, the Brown County Sheriff's Department received a couple of dozen calls wondering what the h--- was going on. The powers that be in the State Agriculture Department, probably after some stings from county officials, alerted the media about last week's spraying. Better late than never, we suppose. But curious planning nonetheless - especially with concerns heightenend by last September. Notifying the media, which, believe it or not, does act responsibly at times, negates the need for print and audio outlets to pick up day-old - and often incorrect - wire service stuff. (2) To schedule closing of the Walnut Street Bridge (for Fox River Trail tunnel construction) at the same time roads on the west side of the Tower Driver Bridge are reduced to one-lane for resurfacing. Who's running the store? FIRST IS FIRST EVER First Northern Savings Bank is the first recipient of the Community Builder Award presented by Neighbhorhood Housing Services of Green Bay Inc. First Northern, founded in the 1920s as Green Bay Building & Loan and later Green Bay Savings & Loan, has been affiliated with NHS for 20 years, said Keith Pamperin, Housing Administrator for Brown County/Green Bay. Pamperin said First Northern goes well beyond traditional lending practices. "They provide professional/expertise to assist the NHSGB in teaching prospective participants on how to change their lives through home ownership counseling, credit repair education, property acquisition and rehabilitation. The agency grew from a conversation on neighborhood needs 20 years ago to an $8 million, not-for-profit, self-help organization. For the first 20 years, a First Northern staff member served as treasurer of the agency board for all but one term. Current First Northern President and CEO Mike Meeuwsen has chaired the board of trustees and the capital campaign for three years. Wally Klunk, retired First Northern CEO, headed the bank when the idea was spawned.