The Municipal Services Committee met 04/08/2024. One of the items they voted on was a street occupancy permit from Boldt pertaining to the Trout Museum project on the corner of Drew and College. Boldt was asking for a license to “Occupy the public right-of-way within the parking lane and bike lane on College Ave between Durkee Street and Drew Street. Drew Street will be closed from College Ave to Water Street. Kimball Alley will be closed between Durkee and Drew Street.” The permit would last through 11/01/2024 with the potential to be extended to 05/02/2025.
The committee voted unanimously to approve the permit with the understanding that city staff was going to discuss with Boldt the possibility of providing access through the area on the weekends when construction work was not taking place.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
As some people have probably already experienced, Drew Street near College is already shut down to through traffic. Department of Public Works Director Danielle Block explained that this was common when a contractor was working with scheduling constraints. Boldt started with a short-term occupancy permit that was able to be approved administratively by staff. That permit will run out 05/05/2024, so in order to continue they will need to have the long-term occupancy permit approved.
The magnitude of the closure was prompted by the type of construction that is happening for the Trout Museum project. It is modular construction and Boldt is lifting pre-made modular sections of the building. They need ample staging room to complete the operation.
Boldt worked extensively with the city’s traffic control division to minimize traffic impacts to the best of their abilities, and they made sure College Avenue would remain open, hence the need to close Drew Street instead.
Alderperson Kristin Alfheim (District 11) asked about the possibility of opening Drew Street up on Sundays when workers weren’t working so that residents could get up from the flats to go to church. Director Block said that was something that staff could discussion with Boldt and noted that Boldt had been very accommodating regarding providing access to the City Hall finance drive-thru window during the City Center Fox Common’s project.
The committee ended up voting 4-0 to approve the street occupancy permit as submitted with the understanding that, prior to the Common Council meeting on 04/17/2024, staff would talk to Boldt about the possibility of providing weekend access through the site.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1183854&GUID=02540FE8-C184-4A0A-86FF-470617A500F5
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