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Politics & Government

Plan Commission Approves Changing Business Zoning Code

Zoning change to allow mixed-use properties forwarded to Common Council for review.

The Plan Commission unanimously Wednesday night approved changing the zoning code for all business districts to allow for mixed use properties, developments with both housing and businesses, as conditional uses.

The zoning code change will go to the Common Council for consideration.

Plan Commission member Rebecca Roeker said she supported the change to the zoning code for business areas because it would be a conditional use, allowing for future Plan Commission oversight.

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by Alderwoman Kathleen Cummings after developer Judy Fuller was considering plans to build a retail/office property with two bedroom apartments on the corner Racine Avenue and Guthrie Road.

Under existing zoning codes, mixed use developments are only allowed in planned unit developments overlay districts, which are found in the downtown area.

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City Planner Mike Hoeft said that there are a number of mixed-use buildings in Waukesha, citing the Main Street Plaza building, the new Carroll University building under construction on Grand Avenue, and the Seymour building on Brook Street.

Fuller spoke to the Plan Commission about the potential project, saying that such a development promotes better land use, cuts down on commutes for residents and is more cost effective to build.

“It would be good for Waukesha to have non-traditional housing,” Fuller said.

Fuller also said that the city should make all its business districts consistent in case there are others who would like to develop such type of properties.

Plan Commission member Joan Francoeur said that she was concerned about making decisions and changes to the zoning code that could have a ripple effect throughout the city based on an individual, single request, a concern that was also voiced by commission member Jo DeMars.

“I do not see this as an example of new urbanism or smart growth," DeMars said. "I see this as something that allows a particular parcel to be used in a particular way.”

She cautioned against changing the zoning code for one development.

“We’re now faced with the issue of a property that is difficult to develop because of the zoning that was requested at the outset,” DeMars said.

Plan Commission member R.G. Keller spoke in favor of making the zoning change, noting that it has been done in other areas of Waukesha and in other communities.

“We’ve seen two or three example of where this has been done in an urban area," Keller said. "As we go closer to the outskirts of Waukesha, the question seems to be does it fit there?”

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