Input Sought for Central City Master Plan

The buzz was audible in the Rotunda Wednesday night as more than 55 Waukesha residents, business owners and concerned citizens attended a listening session regarding the Central City Master Plan.

Instead of listening to a staid presentation, people were invited to participate in round-table discussions about their visions for Waukesha’s central city.

Maps of different parts of the central city area were displayed on easels with tables nearby and participants were asked to share their concerns about the areas, either in writing and turning them in or through discussion with a planner from Graef, the consulting team chosen to develop the master plan, or with Community Development Director Steve Crandell. On the map, the central city area was split into four parts – north (which includes the west side), south, east and the downtown area itself.

People were also asked to view slide presentations located throughout the room which listed concerns compiled from preliminary meetings with stakeholders in the central city.

Some of those concerns and comments included expected items like trains causing congestion, traffic and parking, transit needs, affordable housing and the area needing a mix of retail and office space.

Graef planner Kristi Jacobs said that there were a variety of concerns and issues shared previously and not one overriding issue to be addressed.

In the groups, some of the concerns voiced were not surprising – for example traffic speed or parking – but other ideas were shared, too. For example, Steaming Cup owner Kerry Mackay suggested the master plan incorporate plans for bike routes or paths for the area. In another group, discussion focused on ways the parking garage could be better utilized.

Mayor Jeff Scrima said that master plan will help "bring into focus" what businesses and citizens want for the downtown. He said that the last master plan was developed 12 or 13 years ago.

"A lot of the growth the downtown has seen came from it,” he said.

Waukesha resident Julie Huttner said she grew up here in the 70s when the downtown area was home to department stores like Sears and J.C. Penney’s.

“It was a destination,” she said. She’s glad for the current upswing and for the planning that’s going into improving it more.

“Now it’s coming back,” she said.

She’s frustrated, though, by the perception that Waukesha is difficult to get around in and that parking downtown is challenging.

“We have to get word out” that there aren’t one-ways anymore and that the downtown area is small enough that you can easily walk to parking, she said.

Based on input from Wednesday’s meeting and other meetings, Graef will do follow-up analysis and research and begin exploring recommendations and concepts for the central city area, according to a handout from the consulting firm.

There will be two other public participation opportunities, dates and times to be determined, including a public input meeting to present preliminary recommendations and development concerns and a public open house to present the final plan recommendations.