Planning commission approves Armory Hockey training center with synthetic ice at 1111 West Greenfield Ave.

Chair Wayne Clark called the meeting of the West Allis Planning Commission to order and the body approved a conditional use permit for the Armory Hockey Development Center to occupy a southern tenant space at 1111 West Greenfield Ave.

The project, represented at the meeting by Tony Donovan, proposes a purpose-built training facility using synthetic ice and advanced training equipment rather than traditional on-ice surfaces. The facility would operate seasonally (September–May) with typical weekday hours late afternoon to evening, expanded summer hours and an expected opening in June 2025. "I do not. This is a start up. This is my my first go with this," Tony Donovan said when asked about prior facilities; he added the business expects to hire two to three full-time employees and five to ten part-time seasonal staff.

Staff told commissioners the property is zoned C-3 and that the proposed use requires a conditional use permit. Jack, a planning staff member presenting the file, said the site was built with the adjacent Festival Foods development within the last decade and that the applicant will not change the building exterior or the shared refuse area. "They won't be changing anything with the parking. There's about 24 parking stalls directly in front of the tenant space. Overall, there's over 500 parking stalls as part of this entire development that can be shared," Jack said.

The interior plan presented shows a lobby and pro shop, a strength-training gym, a multi-sport court, a rapid-shot training system, a synthetic-ice rink and a shooting range. The applicant provided three floor-plan options; Donovan said the largest variable is whether to install an expensive rapid-shot rig at opening or add it later, while the portable floor-hockey boards would remain readily movable. Jack and the commission noted only signage permits and building permits remain before occupancy, and recommended approval to the Common Council subject to those permits.

Commissioners moved and seconded the conditional use approval; the motion carried without recorded opposition. The record shows approval of the conditional use permit and site landscape/architectural design review by the Planning Commission; final municipal approvals and building and signage permits remain required before the facility opens.

Local zoning: staff cited C-3 zoning and conditional-use rules; building and signage permits will be required during the city review process.

The applicant and staff said they expect the facility to open in June 2025, pending permit approvals. The commission wished the applicant luck as it closed the item.