HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem IIIPLAN COMMISSION STAFF REPORT MAY 6, 2025
ITEM III: PUBLIC HEARING: AMEND CHAPTER 27A SECTION A-10.2 OF THE
MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO PEDESTRIAN MALLS WITHIN THE
CITY OF OSHKOSH
GENERAL INFORMATION
Applicant: City of Oshkosh Transportation Department
Actions Requested:
The City of Oshkosh Transportation Department requests review and approval of amendments
to Chapter 27A of the Municipal Code.
Applicable Ordinance Provisions:
Chapter 27A is a Traffic Supplement, and has language referencing pedestrian malls.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 2023, the City of Oshkosh through the Transportation Department and the Department of
Community Development, applied for a grant through the Wisconsin Economic Development
Corporation (WEDC) for the Community Development Investment (CDI) Vibrant Spaces
program. This application was completed on behalf of Downtown Oshkosh Business
Improvement District (BID) and described the desire to activate a specific alleyway on Algoma
Boulevard that is located in downtown Oshkosh. The grant application was accepted and
Oshkosh was awarded $32,750 with the BID contributing a match of the same amount. These
monies are planned to be used to activate said alleyway. This existing alleyway has been public
right of way and public property, with public utilities located underneath the surface.
In order to properly utilize the alleyway as desired and in accordance with the awarded grant, a
text amendment is required to designate this area as a pedestrian mall. Every pedestrian mall
has unique characteristics, making it necessary to provide certain regulations within the
ordinance for each of them.
As this section of the Municipal Code is being reviewed, other amendments pertinent to this
section are also being proposed at this time.
ANALYSIS
Staff proposes amendments to the following Chapter 27A code sections:
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Item III - Amend-Chapter 27A – Section A-10.2 Pedestrian Mall
Section A-10.2(A)
Add a paragraph to better clarify which section of a drive aisle is designated as the pedestrian
mall.
Section A-10.2(B)
Add a paragraph to better clarify that the pedestrian mall by Elmwood Avenue is closed to all
vehicular traffic except for authorized maintenance and emergency vehicles.
Section A-10.2(C)
Add section A-10.2(C) to the ordinance to designate the Algoma Alley as a pedestrian mall and
state the regulations pertaining to that area.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the proposed amendments to Chapter 27A of the Oshkosh
Municipal Code.
SECTION A-10.2 PEDESTRIAN MALL
A pedestrian mall as described in Section 66.0905, Wisconsin Statutes, including any subsequent
amendments thereto, shall be created to allow primarily for the movement, safety, convenience,
and enjoyment of pedestrians, and to limit vehicular traffic at the following locations with the
regulations as provided:
(A) 400 Block East, North Main Street
Part of an alley approximately 16 feet in width running between Washington Avenue
and Merritt Avenue located in Block 40 of H.W. Leach’s map of the Fourth Ward of
Oshkosh and being part of the Southeast 1/4 of the Northwest 1/4 of Section 24, Town
18 North, Range 16 East, Fourth Ward, City of Oshkosh, Winnebago County,
Wisconsin, being more particularly described as follows:
That part of said alley running along the east side of Lots 14, 29, 28, 27, 15, 16, 17, 26,
8, 18, 5, 4, 3 and part of Lot 2 of said Block 40 being bounded on the south by the
easterly extension of the south line of the north 20 feet of the south 62 feet of Lot 2 of
said Block 40 (said south line being the south boundary of the property now known
as 420 North Main Street and parcel number 0400820000), and bounded on the north
by the south right-of-way of Merritt Avenue.
The portion of this area that is delineated as sidewalk, which is generally the westerly
9 feet of the above-described property, shall be closed to all motorized vehicular
traffic.
Commented [LL1]: correcting a typo on statute number
Commented [LL2]: Each pedestrian alley will have
different regulations based on the character of the area so
added language acknowledging this
Commented [LL3]: This is the current condition of this
area; a portion is drive aisle for the 400 Block East parking
lot and a portion is sidewalk.
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Item III - Amend-Chapter 27A – Section A-10.2 Pedestrian Mall
(B) Elmwood Avenue, between Lincoln Avenue and West Irving Avenue
That part of Elmwood Avenue approximately 200 feet south of the southern right-of-
way line of the Elmwood Avenue and West Irving Avenue intersection, extending
southerly to the northern right-of-way line of the Elmwood Avenue and West Irving
Avenue intersection, that is adjacent to Lots 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, City’s Replat #2;
also vacated Capital Court; and adjacent to Lots 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29, Doughty’s
Replat, all in the 5th and 7th Wards, City of Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin.
The aforesaid area shall be closed to all vehicular traffic except authorized
maintenance vehicles and emergency vehicles.
(C) Algoma Alley
An alley 14 feet in width and located approximately 90 feet west of the North
Main Street and Algoma Boulevard intersection, extending north from Algoma
Boulevard approximately 138 feet in length.
The aforesaid area shall be closed to all vehicular traffic except:
• authorized maintenance vehicles,
• emergency vehicles; and
• delivery vehicles which shall be permitted to park only temporarily for the
purpose of and when actually engaged in delivery of goods to adjacent
businesses.
Commented [LL4]: This is the current condition of this
area – it is closed except for maintenance and emergency
access.
Commented [LL5]: This conforms to the proposed use of
the area per the Art Alley plans and discussion with
property owners and BID
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