GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A new 100,000-square foot manufacturing facility on Green Bay’s east side is one step closer to reality, although some neighbors aren’t happy about it.
“I think with the many rounds of conversations, we’ve got ourselves to the point where we think we can move into this,” Green Bay Drop Forge Owner Bill Hoban said.
On Monday, Green Bay’s Plan Commission recommended approving a conditional use permit for general industrial use on a plot of land north of Finger Road. The idea was submitted by Cleveland Hardware and Forging, known locally as Green Bay Drop Forge.
“You guys as the city are looking at how the city will expand and grow and attract talent and that’s the same thing we’re doing,” Hoban said. “We’ve been around for 110 years, we want to be around for another 110 years.”
The company says the development will keep up to 130 jobs here in Northeast Wisconsin. But neighbors believe bringing that work so close to them will have adverse effects.
“It’s not made for that kind of traffic,” neighbor Wes Dorner said. “I lived there for what, 22 years, and now we get this coming to our front yard. I think it’s BS.”
The project is expected to include press production 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday. Like the company’s other site, work at this facility will also include hammer and machine shop production.
Though Cleveland Hardware and Forging officials say noise will be kept below 80 decibels, as required by city ordinance, sound remains a concern for nearby homeowners.
“Even if the sound outside the building’s 60 decibels, it goes bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, 10 hours a day,” neighbor Jim Spitzer said.
Portions of the plan were modified to address concerns following a previous public meeting. The recommendation now goes to the full council, which will vote on it at its meeting next week Tuesday.
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