Ashwaubenon residents informed about walkway A public meeting was held Thursday to seek input into the proposed pedestrian walkway, linking the Resch Center (pictured) with Simon Bay Park Square - Packer Drive to Willard Drive (photo by H. Marc Larson). Informational meeting Thursday shows project is still in early stages By Monique Balas News-Chronicle A proposed pedestrian walkway project in Ashwaubenon garnered plenty of questions but few definitive answers at a public informational meeting Thursday. Village Administrator Steve Kubacki and representatives from project consultant company Foth & Van Dyke were on hand at the first of several meetings to gather public input and answer questions about the walkway. "Our desire is to have a route, a right-of-way, a cross-section of the street, parking lot definitions, a village square concept fleshed out, streetscape ideas and then the overall implementation and time frame with which this will be accomplished," said Kubacki before the meeting. "It's kind of like planning, design, construction and finalization." The proposed project would feature a mix of commercial, residential and office buildings along a connecting route from the Resch Center to Simon Bay Park Square mall. A pedestrian-only walkway would run between Packer Drive and Potts Avenue and limited traffic - possibly only service vehicles, buses and trolley service - would be permitted along the rest of the route, which would end at Marvelle Lane where it intersects with Fox Heights Lane. Kubacki said funding would likely come from private developers and Ashwaubenon's Community Development Authority. He said it was too early to determine a cost for the project. "With all of the energy at the Resch Center, Lambeau Field and Bay Park Square, we think this is a significant development for increased identity for Ashwaubenon," Kubacki said. "Have we done a good job so far? I think we have. Can we do better? I think we can." But some residents were concerned about how they might be affected by the project, which is slated to begin within a year. "How do you anticipate zoning those properties?" asked Bill Woodward, an attorney who was asked to attend the meeting by a group of area property owners. Kubacki said he was unsure if zoning ordinances would have to be modified once the project is under way. "We're going to look at all that," he said. Mark Williams owns Williams Auto Body Shop on Potts Avenue, which would be on the east side of the proposed walkway. "What happens if, as a property owner, we don't like this plan, we don't want this plan, and we want to stay where we're at?" Williams said. Kubacki said the village would use condemnation only as a last resort but said it might be an option. He added he hoped the private developers would work with property owners to come up with a solution. Williams said after the meeting he understood the village's desire for the project but hoped there would be adequate compensation if he lost his property. "(The village) has to meet the current property owners' needs," he said. "We've been there for 45 years." Michael Aubinger, president of the Ashwaubenon Historical Society, said he was concerned about the project's sustainability, especially considering potentially increased costs for public safety. New entertainment, business and housing would mean the police and fire departments would likely be handling increased calls, he said. "Those are three high call areas, and I'm not saying it's bad, I'm saying you have to balance whether an increase in valuation is going to offset the cost to sustain," Aubinger said after the meeting. "Sometimes sustainability has taken a backseat to the excitement of a new project." Kubacki said planning for the project should be completed within three to four months, a design in six months and initial construction is expected within the next year.