chapter 6

Chapter 6: Defining the Future

Introduction

To identify community issues and opportunities, a three-step process was used. This process included:

ü A Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat Assessment

ü Values Identification

ü Vision Exercise

The result of this process was a beginning vision for the Town Center. By starting with a vision, decisions about design elements and other amenities were simplified. This approach was critical to the development of this plan. What follows is a summary of each of these activities and their results.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats (SWOT) Assessment

A SWOT is a planning exercise used to get communities thinking about:

ü where they have been;

ü where they are;

ü where they want to be in the future; and

ü how they want to get there.

What follows is a brief definition of a strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat as used in a SWOT exercise.

Strength Something that makes the Town Center standout when compared to other communities. Something that makes residents proud of the area. A strength can be a physical asset, a program, an environmental condition or an impression or feeling (i.e. friendly community atmosphere).

Weakness Opposite of a strength. Problem that needs to be addressed.

Opportunity Something that could be done to improve the Town Center. A potential.

Threat A threat may be internal or external. A threat can be anything that could jeopardize the future success of a community.

On August 21, 2002, the Town of Suamico Advisory Committee participated in a SWOT exercise as part of the project Kick-Off Meeting. The objective of the exercise was to find out how the Committee viewed various aspects of the Town. This included their feelings on physical things such as roads, utilities, etc., and "quality of life" issues. The table provided on the following pages lists the ideas.

Strengths	Responses  Wide Open Spaces § General Potential for Development § Natural Forestation § "Down-Home" Atmosphere – Friendly to Young and Old § Suamico River Frontage § Location – In Relation to USH 41/141 & Business Traffic § Interesting Terrain § Potential to Keep Open Spaces – Parks/Etc. § Vickery Village – Heritage Theme Area § On the Way to the New Zoo – Family Traffic § Local Traffic – On CTH B – Willing to Stop § CTH B is already being looked at for Improvements by the County § Property is Available – In Transition Phase § Visibility § Past History of Area as Community Hub § Flavor of Small Town – Church, RR, Trees, Etc. § ½ Way Up North Stopping Point Along USH 41 § Interest Exists from Developers – Potential Exists § Wetland Areas § Convenient Location for Many Residents
Weaknesses	Responses  Short-Term "Dumpy" Reputation – History of Town Hub, Has Left and Needs to be Rebuilt § Poor Infrastructure – Especially Storm Sewer § Poor Early Planning § Environmentally Sensitive Areas – Rivers, Wetlands, Etc. § Already Buildings in the Area that Don’t "fit" into Vision (old & new) § Mixed Use § Lacks Organization – No Continuity § Amenities Area Not Visible (i.e. River Frontage ) § Traffic Count Approx. 5,000 Cars Per Day - Not Very Much in Terms of Retail § Town Center Area is not a "Stopping Point", but rather a Pass Through Point for USH 41/141 (Only 12 Minutes to Green Bay) § Roads Do Not Currently Accommodate High Traffic Volumes and Pedestrians §
Opportunities	Responses  Connection to New Zoo Trail § Access to Suamico River § Planned Commercial District Zoning § Transient Traffic Off Highway 41/141 § Theme Establishment (and Re-establishment) § Essentially Starting with Clean Slate – No High Land Values to Recoup Out – "No Risk - No Gain" § Incorporation *§ Maintain Green Spaces*
Threats	 Age of Infrastructure § Transition Period § Not Having a Plan § Execution of Plan. § Ensuring Development is Consistent with Plan § Providing Timely Approvals § Making Sure that the Approvals Result in Assets to the Community § Developers May Push to Develop Contrary to the Plan § Lack of Private Money in the Community To Support Plan Implementation § *Tax Payer Costs for Infrastructure Improvements*

The results of the initial SWOT exercise were presented at a special public meeting on October16, 2002. During the meeting residents were asked their opinion about the SWOT results. Generally, residents agreed with the responses given. Residents offered additional ideas that are shown in bold italics in the table above.

Town Values

During the Kick-Off Meeting, the Advisory Committee was asked to identify the values that influence residents to remain, take pride in, and become actively involved in the community. The complete list of those values is provided below. These value statements provided a clear direction for the development and implementation of the Town Center Plan. It is important that these values remain strong as the plan is implemented and development occurs in the Town Center. For this reason, the Plan Commission and Town Board should regularly review these values as they make decisions regarding future development.

The Town of Suamico Values Its:

ü Quality Residential Neighborhoods

ü Friendly Community Atmosphere

ü Access to USH 41/141

ü Low Crime Rate

ü Recreation Opportunities and Amenities

ü Natural, Undeveloped Areas, including wetlands, woodlands and floodplains

ü Access and Views of the Suamico River

ü Community History

Vision Development

At the project Kick-Off Meeting, a vision assignment was distributed to the Planning Advisory Committee. The assignment provided a series of questions for the Committee to consider. Each question related to the desired future of the Town Center. What follows is a summary of the questions asked and responses received. This information was used when formulating the theme areas presented later in this plan.

Looking Down on the Town Center in 10 Years One Would See…

 Woodlands and parks integrated with businesses

 Riverfront development

ü An organized transportation system with scattered green areas, parking, attractive iron fencing, and trails

ü Trees surrounding business

ü A bike trail along the Suamico River

ü A well-organized and integrated development pattern that is pedestrian friendly and also uses traffic flow devices to encourage retail and commercial activity.

ü Development would look like it was intended to allow for automobile use without being dominated by parking facilities and intersections where pedestrians take a back seat to automobile traffic.

In 10 Years, Residents and Motorists Visiting the Town Center Travel to and through the Area Via…

 HWY 41 and CTH B and Velp Avenue

ü Parking areas scattered around the Town Center allow for easy pedestrian access to all sectors of the Town Center.

ü Residents intending to travel to the Town Center area can use pedestrian and bicycle trails and/or automobiles.

ü Residents and motorists traveling through the Town Center area have sufficient well-designed roads and traffic control devices to allow for a smooth traffic flow in and out of the Town Center area.

In 10 Years, the Railroad Corridors that Existed in the Town Center …

ü The old tressel on Riverside Drive has been moved and raised to allow for delivery and emergency vehicle access to the businesses on Side Street.

ü

Should the rail corridors be abandoned in the foreseeable future, the railroad rights-of-way could be converted to inter-municipal pedestrian/bicycle trails and serve as an access vehicle for the Town Center area. If this were to occur, the Town Center could benefit by providing services to individuals using the trail system.

ü

ü

ü

ü If the railroad rights-of-way are not abandoned, the rail crossing should be updated for safety reasons and the rail bridge over Riverside Drive should be removed and/updated for traffic flow and safety reasons

In 10 Years, The Suamico River Frontage in the Town Center…

 Includes a linear park with benches and boardwalks

ü Supplies a tranquil area for the business owners and workers to take a break.

ü Is a place where Families stop during trips to the New Zoo to eat a picnic lunch.

ü Is surrounded by a variety of small shops and trails

Historic Preservation Efforts in the Town Center have Resulted in…



Revived business in and around Vickery Village

ü Special theme days that draw crowds from surrounding communities bolstering area commerce.

ü Small shops of vintage design. Gifts, arts, demo gifts (candles) snack foods are available in the Town Center

ü The marketing of this historic preservation area has resulted in thriving retail and service business establishment

ü .

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ü Restoration of buildings of historic value

Natural Areas (wetlands, woodlands, etc.) that Existed in the Town Center in 2002 are…

ü Serving many different purposes including scenic beauty, stormwater management, stormwater purification and business attraction

ü Maintained, cleaned, and improved to attract customers to the Town Center

Passing Motorists Exit USH 41 at CTH B to Enjoy/Receive…

 Gasoline, food, financial services, and a relaxing walk or bike along the Suamico River

ü Any buildings that are seen from USH 41 must be vintage to draw passing motorists in.

ü Motorists traveling to destinations other than Suamico enjoy services from businesses to provide the traveling public with its needs.

ü Those motorists looking for an area to spend some quality time near their homes enjoy the cultural and service amenities provided by the Town Center.

The Internal Transportation Network Within the Town Center is Connected to…



Velp Avenue

ü State and County corridors to afford a link to other communities

ü The community by means of a pedestrian and bicycle trails

Development Near the USH 41 Exit in the Town Center includes…

ü Businesses that serve a transient population and/or the community residents that commute to Green Bay for employment purposes. Lodging, gasoline, and food choices are needed.

ü A commercial hub for the town with banks, retail stores, and service businesses.

Development along Veterans Avenue in the Town Center includes…

 More Stores

ü Hobby, small business, gift shops, etc.

ü Drug store, barber shop

ü Service and retail amenities that are used primarily by residents, such as automobile maintenance business and small retail providers such as drug stores, hardware stores and convenience stores.

Development Near CTH HS in the Town Center Includes…

ü A blend of staple services to meet local needs (i.e. a grocery store, florist, barber, drug store, credit union, dentists, etc.).

Summary

The purpose of this chapter is to highlight the charactericits that make the Town Center unique and special. The community has completed many tasks in an effort to define the strenghts and opportunities it would like to capitalize on, as well as, the weaknesses and threats facing the area. The value and vision information in this chaper define the desired future of the Town Center. This Information serves as the foundation for developing the design and themes within the Town Center.