The City Plan Commission met 05/28/2025. One of the items they took up was the request to approve the Preliminary Plat for the Thrivent development. The commission voted unanimously to recommend that it be approved.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
Last year, Thrivent came forward with a conceptual master plan for the development of the Thrivent campus that included missed-use development of office and retail buildings along Highway 41, a shopping and business corridor to the north, and a mix of single-family homes, multi-family apartments, townhomes, and mixed-used commercial/residential buildings.
On 05/28/2025, the preliminary plat for the development was brought before the City Plan Commission. The preliminary plat divided approximately 260 acres into 14 parcels which would have a future commercial use and also include some trails and greenspace. The out lots would be used for stormwater retention.
The plan included the extension of Evergreen Drive through the area between Ballard Road and Meade Street and the extension of Milestone Drive toward the existing Thrivent corporate office. The plan also included some new proposed ancillary roads labeled Road C and Road D within the development.
The preliminary plat stage provides city staff time to provided feedback that may lead to potential modifications before the final plat is eventually brought forward for approval. Principal Planner Don Harp that they were still having some dialogue regarding Road C.
Alderperson Denise Fenton (District 6) noted that while the park land and trails within the area were going to be accessible to the public, they would be owned by the developer. She asked if city staff had any concerns about the park land being privately owned.
Director of Community Development Kara Homan responded that that would be negotiated as part of a development agreement. She mentioned that the city was evaluating whether a Tax Incremental Financing District ought to be created in the area. If a TID was created, there would be a development agreement associated with that. Additionally, even without a TID, the city always has development agreements for all plats. Finally, she said that the existing trails were in the out lots for water retention and the city already has easements in those areas that might need to be tweaked and renegotiated as development moved forward.
Mayor Woodford commented positively on the plan to make Evergreen Drive cut through the area from Ballard Road to Meade Street. This was beneficial particularly in terms of fire truck access because, right now, fire trucks wanting to go from one side of this area to the other have to either go up and around or down and around.
The commission voted unanimously to recommend the preliminary plat for approval.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1309277&GUID=1AE39D0D-0D0D-4694-9865-B9662F004CFD
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