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Rivianna To Go Before City Plan Commission (Renderings)

Rivianna, proposed by Developer Bob Schultz, will go before the Milwaukee City Plan Commission on July 13th, 2009. Schultz is attempting to gain approval of his detailed plan development as well as an amendment to general planned development and riverwalk design approval. If approved, the development will go before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee, and then onto the full Common Council.

Jul 7th, 2009 by Jeramey Jannene

Commission Approves Near South Side Area Plan

Although this meeting of the City Plan Commission was light on large scale development projects, there were two items of interest on the agenda.

Apr 21st, 2009 by Dave Reid

Commission Approves Change to MPS Property Sale Process

The first was a step in the formal process of Milwaukee Public Schools (“MPS”) selling properties that have been deemed surplus to their needs. Specifically, MPS is moving forward on three properties, the Delaware Service Center, Clairmont, and the Happy Hill Elementary School. Unlike other properties held by the City of Milwaukee when MPS is involved the process involves hiring an outside brokerage firm and legal aide to facilitate the process. Additionally, unlike other City of Milwaukee land sales these sales will prohibit a private schools that participates in the parental choice program from purchasing the property, and prohibits a tax free use of the property unless a PILOTS is created. This file was approved and will now go before the Public Works Committee. The other item of interest was the proposed rehabilitation of Highbridge condominium building envelop. This rehabilitation has become needed because of several failures in the construction that has lead to extensive leaking throughout the building. The brick on the upper floors will be clad over with EIFS to create a new weather barrier, and new windows will be installed throughout the building. Kelly Thompson, the architect from Facility Engineering, who was hired to render repairs to mitigate these failures stated his desire to insure the rehabilitated building doesn’t take away from the neighborhood by saying “we really don’t want it to look like the Hampton Inn out on the west side of town.” This file was approved and will now go before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee.

Mar 31st, 2009 by Dave Reid

Neighborhood Group Pushes Chapter 17

Although only a few development projects were on this commission meeting’s agenda the most insightful item was the presentation of the UWM Neighborhood Plan by the Universities Neighborhoods Association (UNA). Jeffrey Jordan presented the groups findings and laid out a few neighborhood issues. The group wants UWM to acknowledge that the “sudden growth of the university” has lead to problems such as overcrowding of the neighborhood. He also stated their desire to see the implementation of Chapter 17 which would penalizes students at UWM for off campus problems. Additionally, UNA wants future dorms to be planned with the neighbors and clearly doesn’t want to see dorms built at the Columbia Hospital site. Alderman Nik Kovac spoke about UWM”s master planning program and stated that UWM’s plan to expand in Wauwatosa was a “terrible idea”. This update showed the ongoing difficulty of relations on the East Side between UWM and the neighborhood and also highlighted the City of Milwaukee’s efforts to encourage UWM to expand in downtown Milwaukee.

Feb 20th, 2009 by Dave Reid

Marquette Recieves Zoning Approval From Commission

This meeting had few files acted on but Marquette University’s request for a change in zoning of a variety of university owned properties shows Marquette University is moving ahead on significant projects in downtown Milwaukee. [inaarticlead]It was pointed during the meeting that out that of the 8000 undergraduates at Marquette University approximately 6,500 live within a six block area of the university, many of whom live in university owned student housing. In responses to this ongoing need, Marquette University’s brought this resolution forward primarily because of their intent to convert the apartment building at 1628 W Wisconsin into university run student housing. Whitney Gould asked if any of the other properties receiving a change in zoning could possibly be considered of historic value, to which representatives of Marquette University indicated that none of the buildings were of historic significance. This file was approved and will now go before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee.

Jan 8th, 2009 by Dave Reid

Hometown Dorm Site – Additional Project Renderings

Mandel Group's efforts to construct a new UWM dormitory on the East Side took a step forward this week after receiving approval at both the City Plan Commission and the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee. This matter will be taken up by the full Common Council on December 16th, 2008 and if approved intends to break ground within 90 days.

Dec 11th, 2008 by Dave Reid

City Commission Approves UWM Dorm Design

Bob Monnat, the chief operating officer of Mandel Group, gave a short presentation covering the history behind the development of this site.

Dec 9th, 2008 by Dave Reid

Commission Approves Expansion of BID 21

In stark contrast to the previous City Plan Commission meeting, this meeting featured no heated debates but it did see the approval of two resolutions aimed at improving downtown Milwaukee. Resolution 080617 proposed the expansion of Business Improvement District (“BID”) 21. This expansion has been in the works for the past four years and went through a lengthy process of approval within the BID membership. The expansion includes Schlitz Park, The Brewery, Manpower, East Point, the Park East and two other tax exempt areas. Although these properties currently don’t represent a large addition to the BID tax base, these additions were made looking to the future. Additionally, Beth Nichols, the executive director BID 21, explained that in order to bring more retail options to downtown Milwaukee the BID has recently hired a retail strategist and will be adding a retail coordinator soon. This resolution was approved and will now go before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee. Resolution 080515 proposed creating the first Neighborhood Improvement District in Wisconsin. It was explained that the key difference between a Business Improvement District and a Neighborhood Improvement District (“NID”) is that the NID can include residential properties with eight units or more whereas a BID can’t include residential properties. This NID would include The Brewery neighborhood and would pay for, the upkeep of pocket parks, streetscaping, alleys, the Pabst sign, and storm-water management facilities. This resolution was approved and will now go before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee.

Sep 18th, 2008 by Dave Reid

Combined Committee Approves 26-story Tower

This meeting was the much anticipated combined City Plan Commission ("CPC") and Historic Preservation Commission ("HPC") meeting regarding New Land Enterprises' development proposal for the Goll Mansion site.

Sep 16th, 2008 by Dave Reid

Goll Mansion Project Prepares to Go Before the City for Approval

This project by New Land Enterprises proposes the construction of a 27-story 35-unit condominium development that would activate the Goll Mansion by utilizing it as the development's lobby. Controversy flared up at a recent neighborhood meeting over concerns from residents of 1522 On The Lake that some of their view would be blocked and from historic preservation groups that raised concerns about insuring the preservation of the historic Goll Mansion.

Sep 7th, 2008 by Dave Reid

City Plan Commission Approves 52-unit Residential Care Complex

Resolution 080422 would advance the development known as Kilbourn Square. This project is proposing the development of a 52-unit residential care complex to be located at 2195 W. State St. that would house adults 55 and older. This resolution stood out primarily because it showed the difficulties of developing property in the City of Milwaukee. Although the developer presented a project that respected the historical nature of the site and had worked with the City of Milwaukee to put together a logical infill development it still faced a hurdle. This hurdle wasn’t due to zoning or regulations but a neighboring citizen wishing to maintain the status quo. This resident complained about, the loss of two trees and green space, and the potential of more traffic. The commission heard these issues but voted to approve the resolution despite the concerns. This resolution will now go before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee.Another item of note was resolution 080262 which vacated land along South Alexander St. and West Nicholas St. between South 5th St. and South 6th St. to the neighboring property owner. This was done to allow for construction of a retaining wall to built on the property in support of The Iron Horse Hotel project. This resolution was approved and will now go before the Public Works Committee.

Jul 15th, 2008 by Dave Reid

Commission Approves Vacating ‘Paper’ Alleys

This was one of the shorter and less volatile City Plan Commission meetings in recent times. Resolution 071564 proposed vacating two alleys in the Park East redevelopment area to allow for construction of the Palomar. These alleys were referred to as “paper” alleys indicating that they had been plotted but never actually constructed. The commission unanimously approved this resolution and forwarded it on to the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee.

May 16th, 2008 by Dave Reid

Ald. Bohl Pushes Commission To Deny Density

A land division request to create twelve lots for single-family housing on the South Side of W. Bobolink Ave and West of W Appleton Ave met criticisms of being to dense and not being consistent with the neighborhood. Although this development is not indicative of the urban development happening throughout the City of Milwaukee it points out the divide between the urban and suburban parts of the city. Throughout the vast majority of the city you’ll find density numbers far in excess of 2.9 households per acre where in this part of the city local Alderman Jim Bohl argued that 2.9 households per acre was too dense for the neighborhood and therefore undesirable. Despite these tremendously low density numbers and evidence presented showing that there are developments in the area with similar density numbers it was apparent Bohl would push for less housing to be built on the site. The commission held this resolution to allow the developer to work with Bohl and the neighborhood on a reworked plan.

Apr 22nd, 2008 by Dave Reid

City Plan Commission Approves Zoning for 20-story Building

Resolution 071500 would change the zoning for the properties located at 700 East Kibourn Ave. and 711 East Kibourn Ave. to General Planned Development and would specify the maximum height and density of the project. As reported earlier New Land Enterprises intends to build two mixed-use buildings with up to 20-stories and 230 residential units each. Despite the project being in the neighborhood of Yankee Hill, Juneau Village Towers, The Regency, University Club and Kilbourn Tower a handful of neighbors expressed their belief that a 20-story building wasn’t consistent with the neighborhood Alderman Bauman spoke briefly on the project saying that he “enthusiastically supports this project” and went on to indicate the proposed buildings fit the neighborhood. This resolution was approved by the commission and will now go before Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee for approval. Resolution 071176 proposed the vacation of the eastbound right-hand turn lane from East Pittsburgh Ave to South Water Street. The removal of the turn lane would support the mixed-use development of the adjacent property by improving access to the site for a potential retail tenant. This resolution was approved by the commission and will now go before Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee for approval.

Apr 2nd, 2008 by Dave Reid

City Plan Commission Approves Empowerment Village

One item of note was the request for a changing in zoning from Industrial Heavy and Park to General Planned Development that had been held at the last City Plan Commission meeting. The approval of this resolution would be next step in allowing the Empowerment Village low income housing project to be built on a city owned lot near the Kinnickinnic River. It was held because local environmental groups had planned on utilizing the property for expanded green space and argued that the City of Milwaukee should work with the developer to find another vacant lot. After further review the Department of City Development (DCD) determined this was the best available city lot in that part of the city, that there significant time sensitive need for this type of housing project, and therefore recommended approval. Despite the recommendation Alderman Tony Zielinski continued his opposition to this project saying “the point is there are other options and I hope we don’t act on this”. The Commission took the advice of DCD and approved the resolution send it on the the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee. The site location is pictured below via Google Maps Street View. View Larger Map

Mar 6th, 2008 by Dave Reid

The Roundup