Staff Report

Want there to be more ways to get around Stanley in a safe and timely manner? Then it’s time to stand up and petition the railroad! While certain areas of the old Stanley, Merrill, and Phillips railroad right-of-way have been broken up (think Gilman Street and its immediate surroundings) and attached to private property parcels while other parts are cut off and stranded as such from all public access per the Chippewa County GIS map, other old and abandoned rail rights-of-way in Stanley still await a newfound purpose, contingent that is, upon the current owner’s (or else owners’) approval.

The S. M. and P. is no more, but with Canadian National trains currently rolling through town on the old Soo Line, four separate companies are listed at the old depot’s “No Trespassing sign: Algoma Central Railway; Sault St. Marie Bridge Company; Fox Valley and Western Ltd. And the Wisconsin Central Ltd. Who owns the depot is another story, but the rights-of-way question remains.

As it stands these rights-of-way aren’t getting used, and left to themselves will just continue to be overgrown ruins. On the other hand, using the old rail corridors as ready-made bike paths with slight improvements to them (like clearing brush and paving them), could help draw more people to town. The recently approved 20-year plan prepared by the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (WCWRPC) states as much: “Develop a key multi-use recreational trail.”

Meanwhile, the plan prepared by the WCWRPC and recommended for council approval (it was approved) by the Stanley Plan Commission calls for other adjustments to the City as it moves forward in the coming decades. No matter how good the plan, though, there were still unknowns.

“It should be noted that demographic projections are not an absolute science,” the City of Stanley Plan Commission Report (hereafter “Report”) states as it looks ahead to the next twenty years. “Some methods use a linear, historical approach using past growth trends to predict future growth or decline, and other methods use births, deaths, and in-migration to estimate the population,” the Report goes on, seeming to choose the former with respect to .

“While certain factors, demographic, economic and geographic, influence growth, each community has an opportunity to shape its growth using tools or policies to promote or limit development.” First though, there needs to be a goal or end in sight. So what might Stanley be in two decades, per the Report’s vision statement?

“In 2040, the City of Stanley is a thriving community where citizens work together and value the community as

See REPORT, Page 9

Now used for storing Stanley’s Christmas display, the old 1906 train depot is but one example of a community asset for which a new purpose may be found, becoming a local trialhead or other venue, provided the Christmas decorations found a new home. Staff photo. REPORT

FROM PAGE 3

a great place to live, work, and recreate,” the vision statement reads. To that end, the Report as recently recommended for approval by Plan Commission Resolution NO. 2020-2040 and later approved by the Common Council via Resolution NO. 2020-012 takes the present situation of the City of Stanley into consideration and makes some predictions, as well as recommended changes to better position Stanley going forward.

“About 10,000 to 12,000 vehicles drive through Stanley on Highway 29 in an average day but do not stop,” the Report notes. “This is a potential market if you can capture it.” Noting that Highway 29 “has created a commercial district in the City,” the Plan Commission Report recommends building on the momentum of Kwik Trip as a downtown anchor and notes the first meeting’s stated desire for a new restaurant in town, with North Broadway Street presently posting a building permit in its window to be transformed into a Mexican-style food restaurant, now in progress. That’s not all, though. Included with growth is new development in building terms, and that has a hitch to it.

“Plan strategies and the future land use (FLU) map are guides; there are not regulations,” the Report states, with regulations defined e.g. (“among other things”) as “zoning” and “land division ordinance.” The Report from the Plan Commission largely calls for filling in present lands with more of the same: where industrial, more industrial; where commercial, more commercial, where residential…well, you get the idea. Stating that implementation is “contingent on financial resources,” the Report states that while many plan items such as those in the downtown subplan “may not require large monetary investment,” they will nonetheless need “coordination and organization” to become a reality. Stating as well that “decisions should be consistent with the plan intent,” the Report advises amendment, “if needed.” Meanwhile, the City’s public works infrastructure is also important to maintain.

“Improve street and sidewalk maintenance,” the final Report states, along with increased signage on Highway 29 for downtown, to help entice those 10,000 to 12,000 daily drivers-by to take the off ramp to downtown—and stay a while. It’s all in the Sociability section of the Report.

“Hold more community events downtown,” the Report states for Stanley, without providing specifics. Furthermore, the City should “encourage community activity in downtown during winter months,” as well as “instill community pride through beautification,” or in other words, make sure things look nice—the aesthetical component.

“Have year-round downtown programming, entertainment, and events,” the Report recommends, also stating that the City should “provide a covered gathering space,” again without providing specifics, thereby leaving the door open to imaginative and innovative spaces. To accomplish goals meanwhile, its necessary to have a plan, along with a task force it seems.

“Form a task force,” the Report states for Uses and Activities Strategies. Also included in Uses and Activities strategies are the free market initiative to “attract new businesses to meet the desires of the market,” along with providing “uses and activities centered around seniors and youth,” but also increased “opportunities for outdoor dining, shopping, and services.” To that end, people should feel comfortable in the downtown area (or more so), and included in the plan are some “Comfort and Image” strategies for downtown: Beautify the downtown streetscape; Update/Improve building facades; Improve the appearance of building storefronts, and improve the appearance of vacant storefronts, these last being unspecified as to addresses. “I think it’s important that this doesn’t become a shelf item,” Plan Commission member David Jankoski said of the Report at the final Plan Commission meeting prior to the Council approval as such. After all, just because a plan is made, doesn’t mean it won’t fall into disuse. Just ask the old S. M. and P rail rights-of-way.