Dennis Statz is the newest member of the Sturgeon Bay Common Council.  During a lengthy two-hour meeting Tuesday evening, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council filled the District 2 seat that was left open after David Hayes resigned at the end of September.  Statz was voted in as the alderperson by a 4-2 margin over three other candidates.  In speaking to the council prior to the vote, Statz shared his credentials.

Statz will be sworn in later this week and seated at the next meeting on November 3rd.

In other action taken, the Common Council denied the appeal of the decision of the Aesthetic Design & Site Plan Review Board regarding the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding project.  Ross Schmelzer, who owns the building next to one of the Fincantieri structures being expanded, appealed the decision but was not able to attend and requested a delay until the next council meeting.  After a tie-breaking vote by Mayor David Ward to not postpone the agenda item, the council affirmed the Review Board decision but added conditions to address water drainage and noise concerns.

In a separate agenda item, a recommendation from the City Plan Commission regarding the area and dimensional requirements of buildings in industrial zoning districts was approved.  The amendment to the Municipal Code would allow height limits for buildings to be increased up to 120 feet and setbacks to existing structures.   That decision will now go to a public hearing on November 3rd before the second reading of the new ordinance.   

The City of Sturgeon Bay also formally approved the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.