City of Green Bay
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The City of Green Bay is working to update a document that will guide the city’s growth for decades to come, and they’re seeking input from community members.
City Principal Planner David Buck says the 2050 Comprehensive Master Plan for Green Bay is long overdue for an overhaul.
When you think about how Green Bay came to be — its layout, where homes and developments lie, and modes of transportation -– it’s all a product of the city’s comprehensive master plan.
“It is a framework for future growth and development of your community, it deals with land use, transportation, housing, intergovernmental cooperation, it lays out a guide for the city legislature to enact laws and tools to make those visions happen,” says Buck.
Green Bay’s current plan is now 22 years old.
Though updated yearly, Buck says it’s time for a full rewrite, planning for the next few decades.
But this time, there’s a much stronger focus on hearing from the community.
“This is the city’s plan, this isn’t my plan this isn’t the planners’ plan, it is the city’s plan and the city is made up of the people,” he adds. “You know the plan isn’t really for me, it’s for the next generation past me. Developers can take a look at the plan and see where the community is going and decide if this is a community they want to invest in. Homeowner, the biggest purchase is your home especially nowadays, and you can see what your neighborhood is going to be like.”
Through their survey and community outreach so far, hundreds of locals — even elementary students — have made clear their priorities, and what they think the city should pour more effort into.
“Things that are going to be added to this plan primarily because of public input are health, sustainability, diversity, and connectivity are very hot topics right now.”
It’s also opened conversations about things the comprehensive plan already addresses, but may need more emphasis.
“Really the top ones have been housing shortages and affordability as a big issue, improvements to mix of uses in areas, so its not just all one use in an area so it’s a more walkable community which leads to connectivity and not just for cars, connectivity for people, so walking biking and even boating we’ve heard comments,” Buck adds.
But before they put pen to paper and officially build the plan, the city is hosting community meetings in each of Green Bay’s 10 districts, giving them a chance to gather more input while giving locals a chance to envision and have a say in the future of their immediate neighborhood.
“Be your future, tell us what you want, the city will respond to what you want. The worst thing we could do is not have that public input. That is the most important thing, this will guide the city’s growth for many years, and you know sort of that joke phrase if you don’t vote you can’t complain, you can always complain but we really don’t want you to have to complain, we want to hear what you want,” Buck says.
The following meetings for each district are planned from July 31 through August 26.
July 31: District 4, Northwest Neighborhoods
August 1: District 8, Baird Creek
August 5: District 6, Downtown Core
August 6: District 7, Commercial Core
August 8: District 10, Future growth area
August 15: District 9, Bay waterfront
August 21: Districts 1 & 2, Residential/commercial Oneida Nation
August 26: District 3 Stadium neighborhoods.
For exact times and locations, or to learn which district you fall under, click here.
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