Sturgeon Bay Fleet Farm Project Advances

Fleet Farm cleared two separate city boards last week on its way to constructing a 91,952-square-foot retail store on land the city annexed from the Town of Nasewaupee, south of where Grant Avenue connects with Highway 42/57.

The city’s Aesthetic Design and Site Plan Review Board approved a “certificate of appropriateness” for the project – which includes an automotive service center, exterior yard, gas station and two-bay car wash – subject to a review of the on-site lighting plans, for which the company had not provided the board with a legible copy.

“All and all, I think it’s a good-looking project, good-looking building,” said board chair Rick Wiesner.

The Plan Commission recommended nine conditions to allow the project to be developed under city code as a large retail store:

• Final approval of the utilities plan by Sturgeon Bay Utilities.

• Final approval of the stormwater-management plan by the city engineer.

• Approval by the Community Development Department of the exterior-lighting plan to confirm the height of light poles, shielded fixtures and prevention of light spillover onto adjoining properties.

• Thirteen additional trees needed within 10 feet of the parking areas, either by shifting trees or by adding trees within 10 feet of the main parking lot.

• Agreement to install, or pay for the installation of, a sidewalk along the south side of the frontage road from the intersection with Highway 42/57 to the main entrance into the Fleet Farm site, if sidewalk is installed on Grant Avenue south to the highway intersection and the Grant Avenue-Highway 42/57 intersection is upgraded to either a signalized intersection or a roundabout.

• Agreement to install a sidewalk leading from the frontage road to the pedestrian facility along the front of the Fleet Farm building at the time that a sidewalk is installed along the frontage road.

• Submit a plan for outdoor merchandise display that meets the purpose and intent of the large-retail ordinance.

• Provide outdoor seating for nine people.

• Provide at least one bike rack.

Community development director Marty Olejniczak said the commission’s recommendation did not require approval by the Sturgeon Bay Common Council, which Tuesday approved the official zoning designation for the site as General Commercial (C-1).

Pending council action is the final approval of a development agreement between the city and the company.

The parameters for that agreement include the city agreeing to contribute $425,000 toward the cost of the public street, intersection and utility improvements for the project; and Fleet Farm agreeing to a minimum assessed value of $8 million for 10 years, beginning with the first tax year following occupancy of the building.