|
This is the second in a series of
articles relating to the Village of Howard’s Capital
Improvements Planning Process. This week improving and
planning for Velp Avenue will be the focus.
The Velp Avenue area has become
more of a focus of attention for Board members recently
because of the change that will be taking place in the
Velp Avenue corridor. The state DOT plans to change the
highway design of US 41 and I43 so that the area is no
longer so dangerous. This directly impacts Velp
Avenue. In the new plans you will be able to access
Highway 41 from Velp Avenue with on and off ramps. But,
once you get onto highway 41 from Velp, you will not be
able to access I43. The state is changing the road
structure to get onto I43 so you don’t have drive the
dangerous turn before you reach I43. The only way
drivers will be able to get on I43 is from Lineville
Road, the 29/41 intersections at Shawano Avenue and from
Atkinson Drive in Green Bay.
How does this affect Velp Avenue?
One of the ways to get to Atkinson Drive from Howard is
to take Velp Avenue. Once that happens, the traffic
count will increase. Because of that, Velp Avenue has
become a priority for capital improvements.
Village Administrator, Joshua
Smith, explained opportunities for Velp Avenue to board
members. One of the opportunities suggested is
redevelopment of brownfield/blighted areas. Another
opportunity is to enhance the corridor utilizing
community sensitive design between US 41 to Military
Avenue. Since Military Ave is the eastern border with
the City of Green Bay, it provides the Village an
opportunity to “differentiate” between the two
municipalities, which could provide additional
development opportunities in the Village. With the
opportunities come transportation and safety
improvements. Smith told board members to picture what
Velp Avenue would look like compared to Green Bay if
improvements are made. He said you would be able to
tell when you are in Howard.
A list of suggested improvements
was presented. One was to work with the WisDOT on
enhanced improvements when Velp Avenue is reconstructed
in 2011 (i.e., decorative streetlights, street
plantings, in median/terrace, new “Welcome to Howard”
entry sign along Military and wayfinding signage).
Other suggestions are to; create funds to acquire
blighted properties to assist in redevelopment; assess
potential brownfield areas and proactively work with
property owners on remediation issues; replace
water/sewer infrastructure by fall 2010; and work on
aesthetic issues (i.e., dumpster enclosures, signage,
removing unlicensed vehicles and outdoor storage of
supplies.)
Board members questioned what
brownfield areas were. Smith said “brownfield areas”
are areas that were for industrial use and may have soil
contamination, such as auto salvages or old gas
stations. Those areas would have to be taken care of
prior to redevelopment.
Smith commented that recently there
were commercial developers in town and they were taking
notice of this corridor. The Village needs to be
diligent of the zoning in that area. In order for
opportunities to be provided, there must be appropriate
standards. He noted that presently there are signage
issues for that area along with dumpsters that are not
enclosed, outside storage and pipes and scrap metal
showing from the street.
With redevelopment there always
comes a price. A projected cost analysis was
presented. Highlights of the cost analysis are:
water/sewer infrastructure improvements will be paid
through their utility revenues; streetlights (estimated
cost $400,000), street plantings (estimated cost
$50,000), new entrance sign to Howard ($50,000) and bury
overhead utility lines ($750,000). In order to do this,
you need to budget/plan for these improvements
immediately.
A suggested plan of action was
recommended. There were three major recommendations.
The first was enhanced improvements don’t need to be
paid for until 2011. The staff suggested “banking”
approximately $100,000 of Golf Course Enterprise Funds
surplus from FYE 2008 to FYE 2011 to create $400,000 of
initial money for aesthetic improvements. They
discussed that special assessments could help fund
improvements. The second suggestion was to use the fund
balance from the Industrial Park Expansion Fund of
$403,000 to help fund improvements and possible
undesignated monies from the general fund. The final
suggestion was during the FY 2008 Operating Budget
discussions, the Board should discuss creating a fund to
acquire blighted properties.
The Board will be discussing the
Velp Avenue opportunity during budget time.
Get all of your Community News
by Subscribing Now!
|
