Development will take place at old hospital location

MARINETTE — A developer has purchased the former Bay Area Medical Center property at the corner of Shore Drive and University Drive with eyes on putting housing on that 20-acre property.

Mayor Steve Genisot said the city is working with Shore Drive Development LLC, Green Bay.

“So far discussions have been single-family homes, along with town homes,” the mayor said. “Probably 20 to 21 single-family homes — depending on an easement with the UW (Green Bay Marinette Campus) — and several large town homes.”

Genisot said he expects to bring something before the Common Council in the next month or so, such as site plans and specs from the developer. The project is located in a Tax Incremental District (TID).

Shore Drive Development LLC purchased the property from Aurora Medical Center — Bay Area in late January for $900,000, according to Marinette County records.

“It’s a solid developer,” Genisot said. “It will provide some much-needed housing.”

The property is currently zoned institutional, so it would require a zoning change. That process would likely take a couple of months, Genisot said.

Council newsThe Common Council last week:

• Approved a professional service agreement with Robert E. Lee and Associates, Hobart, Wisconsin, to perform stormwater management plans for the proposed reconstruction project along Shing-Wa-Uk, Na-Wa-Ka and University drives. The cost is $3,500 for University Drive and $2,800 for Shing-Wa-Uk and Na-Wa-Ka drives.

Alderman Doug Oitzinger said he was surprised to see Shing-Wa-Uk and Na-Wa-Ka drives on the list because they aren’t in the 2024 street reconstruction plan.

“We did apply for a grant for not only those two streets but Edwin Street and University (Drive) based on the idea that we would get a significant amount of money,” he said. “I think it was an 80-20 (percent) match because of potential PFAS. We did the testing and did not find any PFAS.”

He asked what budget this would be coming from. Genisot said it will be coming from the 2024 street budget. Oitzinger countered that the work wasn’t in the budget.

“Part of it is driven by the utilities,” Genisot said. “The utility has asked us to prioritize based on the number of (water main) breaks they’ve had.”

Oitzinger said he has a problem with the city deviating from its street plan.

“We haven’t come to the council with our list of streets and made a selection as to what are priorities and this just suddenly shows up in our 2024 plan,” he said. “When it was not in our 2024 plan when we voted on the budget. That’s the problem I’ve got — there’s been no public discussion.”

Genisot said sometimes plans change based on utility work (such as water main breaks) and grant funding availability.

“We’re always trying to find ways to pay for road projects, but we also are somewhat driven by utility,” he said. “Sometimes utility has water main breaks (that need to be addressed).”

Alderman Ken Keller said sometimes plans have to be adjusted. “The utilities and public works have to work together,” he said, “and I think we’ve got to that point.”

Water/Wastewater Manager Warren Howard said his department and the Public Works Department (under Director/Engineer Brian Miller) work well together.

“We have probably 100 streets in town that need to be repaired,” Howard said. “But we all have to work together, and it’s a challenge. Ken’s right. We’ve worked together really well.”

He explained the utility expected to obtain grant funding based on PFAS levels, but the levels were just below the standard set for that funding.

“We thought we were going to get that funding, and we were wrong,” Howard said.

“I just want to correct everyone who says we’re deviating from the plan,” Oitzinger said. “My point is we don’t have a plan.”

Genisot reiterated that a lot of issues change, including funding.

• Voted unanimously to grant an operator’s (bartending) license to a man who was denied at the committee level because of a prior criminal record.

The man explained that he has turned his life around.

“My argument here today is that everything that I was denied for (by the Personnel and License Committee) is 17 years ago or older,” he said. “I have worked my tail off to raise my family. I’m now a grandparent. I’ve raised five wonderful young ladies. I have done everything I can to show I can be a productive member of this society and this community. ... I think over the course of my life and growing up that I have proven that I have changed in every sense.”

Keller said he voted against the applicant during the committee meeting but has had second thoughts.

“I think a little more leniency should be given to bar owners,” he said, adding that they sometimes find it difficult to do background checks on everyone and may find it difficult to hire quality employees.

• Was informed that the April council meeting will take place on April 9 rather than April 2 because of the spring election on the earlier date. The Sine Die meeting will take place April 15, and the reorganizational meeting on April 16.