Packers rezone plans advance to hearing

ASHWAUBENON - The Packers desire to rezone some of its property is headed to a public hearing.

Ashwaubenon's Plan Commission voted Tuesday night to recommend rezoning nine parcels of team owned land next to the Lambeau Field parking lot.

The Packers plan to tear down two of four houses it owns in the area to build a new media parking lot.

“By and large, it would be the ten game days a year and occasional days outside of that,” said Aaron Pokey, a Packers spokesperson, of the use for the new parking lot.

The Packers say the new media parking lot is the team's only current plan for the area. However, neighbors want the Packers to share more.

“I'm very cautious about what's going to be done that might devalue my property,” said Gene Michaels, who says he lives five properties away from Lambeau Field.

Michaels, also a real estate agent, believes his home could lose between $5,000 and $10,000 in value if the Packers go beyond the parking lot plan.

However, Ashwaubenon Village President Mike Aubinger says the Packers would need to get approval for any additional building plans.

“We have a 49 to 51% residential and business ratio, we cannot afford to lose neighborhoods,” said Aubinger.

One variable to protecting the neighborhoods is the people living in them. Packers’ officials say they'd be willing to negotiate with any of their neighbors who might want to sell their property.

“If the people are willing to sell their homes and they want to sell out, that's their choice, but we will protect neighborhoods as long as they want to be protected,” said Aubinger.

Packers’ officials contend, any property they purchase in neighborhoods to the south and north of the stadium would be used only for parking. They say any commercial plans would go on team owned land to the west or east of Lambeau Field.

The public hearing for the Packers rezoning request is scheduled for February 28th.