De Pere · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in De Pere, WI public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Hyperscale data center moratorium
The proposed 12-month moratorium wasn't ready in time — it will land on the September Plan Commission agenda.
Federal Section 106 regulation rewrite
Commissioner Hackbarth warned that the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation advanced a proposal to rewrite Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which he said would weaken protections and public participation. He urged members to contact legislators and the governor.
Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Amendments
Two proposed map changes would re-designate land for multi-family residential — one on Chicago Street and one on North Ashland Avenue — signaling where housing could be built.
Downtown shipping container conditional use
A downtown developer wants to use a shipping container as a food-and-beer venue behind Pasquale's and the future Nicolet Aleworks. Commissioners are wary of bare containers but intrigued enough to have staff draft design rules for a future vote.
Bellmark Plant 7 expansion zoning
Belmark, which took over a warehouse site originally planned for Bedford Paper, keeps expanding. The amendment extends its original deal — roughly $1.1 million in pay-go and land assistance over about 14 years — against an estimated $8.8 million increase in building value.
Comprehensive plan update shifting southeast area to housing
The city is finishing its comprehensive plan update, with the southeast area shifting from business park to mixed-use to help address housing needs. A new SmithGroup contract adds public engagement money, and the Lawrence Drive land use change is part of that picture.
June 2026 Zoning Code Amendments
Annual technical updates to the zoning code: multifamily setbacks, a new 'pay-loan deposit business' category, egress windows, EV charging placement near building entrances, home-business rules, rooftop HVAC, street trees, fences and signs.
Multifamily housing near Southern Bridge corridor
Land near Lawrence Drive and Southbridge Road just got re-designated from business park to multifamily residential, opening the door to apartments in the fast-growing southern corridor.
Brown County Fairgrounds rezoning and gravel drives
The County wants campus-style zoning for the fairgrounds and permission to keep some campground drives as dust-free gravel instead of pavement — the city banned that in 2020. The commission held the item over to June so the County can revise its plan and likely pave the main access loop.
Historic building balcony at 301-305 Main Avenue
The owner of a contributing building in the Main Avenue Historic District won approval for a modern balcony on its highly visible east facade. Because the building isn't locally designated, the Historic Preservation Commission has no say — a tension between downtown vitality and historic character.