City Plan Commission approves five site-specific development items including Third Ward facade changes, church plans and Brady expansion

The Milwaukee City Plan Commission on Monday approved a set of routine land-use items, voting unanimously on five separate files that advanced façade changes, corrective zoning, a church detailed plan amendment, a major industrial expansion and a vehicle-sales reuse project.

Staff presented each file and recommended approval. Commissioners voted in roll-call fashion on each item; no item was rejected. The approvals included one condition requiring the applicant to secure landscaping permission from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) before an occupancy permit is issued for the auto-sales site.

The commission approved a resolution to modify the river-facing façade at 273 E. Erie St. (file 241814). Kristen Connolly of the Department of City Development said the project is inside the Historic Third Ward Riverwalk site-plan review overlay and would replace infill panels in two ground-floor bays with windows to match adjacent openings and increase transparency along the RiverWalk. Architect Daniel Cabara of Rinca told the commission the new openings will serve “student tutoring and study areas,” adding the windows will “provide insight from the RiverWalk into the building.” The commission approved the file on a roll-call vote (Renell Washington, Katrina Crane, Willie Smith, Tariq Moody and Jesus Gonzales — all aye).

The commission corrected mixed zoning for 1026 North 20th St. (file 241529). Connolly explained an administrative error after a 2017 sale left adjoining parcels with mixed zoning; staff recommended assigning RT4 to match adjacent residential properties. Tess Winn of DCD Real Estate told commissioners the owner was aware and supportive. The commission approved the corrective rezoning on a roll call (Washington, Crane, Smith, Moody, Gonzales — all aye).

The commission approved a substitute ordinance to amend the detailed plan development for Holy Cathedral Church (Cathedral Heights) to allow a revised single-phase church building at 7200 W. Florist Ave. (file 241464). Connolly said the revised building will be slightly under 30,000 square feet and accommodate an approximately 1,000-person assembly with accessory ministry space. Liz Luckett, chief financial officer for Holy Cathedral Church of God in Christ, described the congregation’s outreach programs and said the change consolidates ministries into one building. Commissioners closed the public hearing and approved the amendment (Washington, Crane, Smith, Moody, Gonzales — all aye).

The commission approved the third amendment to a detailed plan development for Brady USA’s campus (file 241338), clearing a roughly 100,000-square-foot expansion on the site and adding six new loading docks, expanded parking, landscaping and pedestrian improvements along Good Hope Road. Chris Johns and Nick Micho of EUA described the design; staff noted the addition will retain a 218-foot setback from nearest residential parcels and proposed painted precast materials to complement the existing facility. Commissioners approved the amendment on a roll call vote (Washington, Crane, Smith, Moody, Gonzales — all aye).

Finally, the commission approved a request to allow a light motor vehicle sales facility to return to 3804 S. 20th St., a site in a Development Incentive Zone overlay (file noted during hearing). Connolly said the use is permitted by the overlay with a public hearing and that the applicant will need to secure formal permission from MMSD to place required landscaping on adjacent MMSD-owned land; staff recommended approval conditioned on demonstrating that permission before an occupancy permit is issued. Tom Stachowiak of Stack Design described the adaptive reuse of the former American Freight building; Alderman Michael Speicher spoke in support. The commission approved the file with the staff condition (Washington, Crane, Smith, Moody, Gonzales — all aye).

What the commission did not do: these five approvals were site- and project-specific; the commission’s actions do not change citywide zoning policy beyond the individual approvals and in one case (the auto site) require the applicant to secure off-site landscaping permission before final sign-off.

The commission’s next scheduled zoning-text items followed later in the meeting.

Votes at a glance: - File 241814 (273 E. Erie St., Third Ward façade): Motion to approve as presented. Moved: Commissioner Renell Washington; Second: Commissioner Willie Smith. Tally: Yes 5; No 0. Outcome: approved. - File 241529 (1026 N. 20th St., corrective rezoning to RT4): Motion to approve as presented. Moved: Commissioner Willie Smith; Second: Commissioner Katrina Crane. Tally: Yes 5; No 0. Outcome: approved. - File 241464 (Holy Cathedral Church DPD amendment, 7200 W. Florist Ave.): Motion to close public hearing and approve. Moved: Commissioner Renell Washington; Second: Commissioner Willie Smith. Tally: Yes 5; No 0. Outcome: approved. - File 241338 (Brady USA phase expansion): Motion to approve as presented. Moved: Commissioner Katrina Crane (motion made jointly); Second: Commissioner Willie Smith. Tally: Yes 5; No 0. Outcome: approved. - Auto sales facility at 3804 S. 20th St. (Development Incentive Zone): Motion to close public hearing and approve with condition that applicant obtain MMSD permission for required landscaping prior to issuance of occupancy permit. Moved: Commissioner Renell Washington; Second: Commissioner Willie Smith. Tally: Yes 5; No 0. Outcome: approved (conditioned).

What to watch next: the approvals are project-specific; the docket included two separate citywide zoning-text proposals later in the meeting (RT5 and ADU), which drew extended public comment and separate votes.