Council rezones small Orchard Street parcel to allow permanent smoker for Iron Pig operator

The West Allis Common Council voted May 20 to rezone a small parcel in the 6900 block of W. Orchard St. from RC (residential) to C2 (commercial) to allow a smoker and associated small accessory structure to operate in conjunction with the nearby Tanner Paul business.

City planning staff said the parcel is roughly 3,600 square feet, contains eight parking stalls and a refuse enclosure, and is owned by Tanner Paul. The operator, Leon Schwartz, told the council he plans to place a permanent metal shed around a smoker on the parcel and use the kitchen inside Tanner Paul as his commissary to finish and process smoked meats for a food truck and a future food trailer. "My name is Leon Schwartz. I'm the owner of the Iron Pig 2 ... The purpose of that property is to put my smoker out there, which would be in conjunction with my kitchen that's within the Tanner Paul building," Schwartz said during public comment.

Planning staff noted the rezoning would align the parcel’s zoning with the city’s long‑range plan and that the Planning Commission recommended approval. Staff also said one neighborhood objection had been filed, citing concerns about limited parking, overlap with existing kitchen facilities at Tanner Paul, potential rodent issues and possible health and fire department concerns. Councilmembers asked about plumbing, hand‑washing sinks, electrical hookups and restroom needs; staff and the applicant said the health department would coordinate requirements and that Tanner Paul might provide sink/restroom access for food‑preparation needs.

Schwartz said the smoker unit he uses is a pellet smoker that can run overnight and that he places meat in aluminum pans to limit grease drips. A representative from Shotzi’s (operating inside Tanner Paul) said the smoker would reduce the need to run a loud compressor at the food‑truck location because smoking off‑site reduces on‑truck smoke and compressor use.

If the rezoning is enacted, staff said the applicant would need to meet commercial building code for the permanent shed, obtain electrical hookups by a licensed electrician, coordinate with the health department and submit a site landscaping plan. The city advised that rezoning approval is a first step and would be followed by site‑plan and building‑permit review; Planning Commission conditions include required landscape and site improvements before operations could begin.

The Economic Development Committee recommended approval and the council adopted the committee’s recommendation on the floor. The rezoning was approved by roll call; staff will work with the owner and operator on required permits and inspections before the smoker may begin operations.