Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Aldi Site Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Plan commission approves Aldi site plan; DOT access change, wetlands compensation and architectural reviews remain
Summary
Franklin’s plan commission approved a site plan for a new Aldi at 10001 West Church Street, subject to administrative review of natural‑resource compensation, architectural elevations and lighting; the project includes an access shift required by Wisconsin DOT and an approved increase in parking.
The Franklin City Plan Commission on Oct. 23 approved a site plan for a new Aldi grocery store to be built at 10001 West Church Street (tax key 7959999007), on a parcel formerly part of the Speedway site. The commission approved the plan while reserving administrative review for natural‑resource compensation, final architectural elevations and the final lighting plan.
Planning staff explained the Highway 100/Lovers Lane improvements by Wisconsin DOT required that an existing driveway access be removed. As a result, the applicant proposes a relocated access across from the existing traffic signal at Target and cross‑access to the remaining Speedway property. The developer and DOT worked on the access configuration during predevelopment meetings; staff said the new access alignment was requested by DOT as part of broader southbound corridor improvements.
The proposed Aldi building is roughly 20,000 square feet. Staff noted the applicant requests 95 parking stalls for the store; that number falls within the UDO’s administratively allowed 30% increase for parking when paired with stormwater and bioretention features, and staff determined the provided bioretention/ runoff controls met the ordinance requirement for that increase. Planning staff also reported two small wetlands on the parcel were determined by DNR and the Army Corps to be non‑federal, which triggers UDO compensation requirements but not a federal permitting process. During the hearing staff identified that the submitted compensation plan provided required mitigation for the wetlands themselves but had a shortfall in the buffer compensation; staff asked the applicant to submit a revised compensation plan.
Architectural elevations submitted with the application did not fully meet the new UDO’s street‑facing glazing and facade requirements for the east and west elevations; planning staff requested corrected elevations for administrative review. The commission approved the site plan with the condition that staff may administratively review and accept revised architectural plans, a revised natural‑resource compensation plan, and the final lighting plan.
Tom Howell, director of real estate for Aldi, told the commission the company’s target opening window is 2026 but he said it was too early to commit to a firm date. Pinnacle Engineering’s representative outlined the driveway changes and cross‑access agreements being negotiated with DOT and adjacent property owners.
The motion to approve the site plan included authority for staff to administratively review the remaining items. The commission recorded the motion as approved by voice roll call (ayes recorded; no recorded nays) and the site plan was adopted with the listed conditions.
The applicant and development team said CSM recording and final engineering are underway and that they expect the CSM to be recorded shortly. Once administrative items are cleared and permits are issued, site work may proceed according to the applicant’s development schedule.
