Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals approves Noble Catering event space, clears several day‑care and auto‑use requests; tobacco plans split

The Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals on April 3 approved a package of permits and variances including a major redevelopment of former industrial buildings for an event and catering campus, multiple child‑care and social‑service uses, and several auto‑related operations, while sending one proposed tobacco/e‑cigarette retail application back to the applicant for revision.

The board’s most prominent action was a 15‑year approval for the proposed Noble Catering event campus at 329 and 339 E. Stewart St. The applicant said it will buy the property and invest more than $2.5 million in renovations to convert the buildings into an event hall, kitchen and support spaces; the board cited the scope of the investment and the industrial character of the block in granting a long approval horizon.

Why it matters: the Stewart property is a long‑span industrial building type that the board said is well suited to assembly and commercial reuse; the extended term (15 years) reflects the applicant’s stated capital commitment and the board’s intention to give the project time to stabilize.

Key approvals and dispositions

Votes at a glance (selected items discussed at the hearing) - Consent block (agenda items 1–19): Board approved staff recommendations to dismiss or grant the listed variances and special uses as recommended. Outcome: approved (consent block).

- 2606 W. Wisconsin Ave. (proposed off‑premise automatic changeable wall sign): Applicant asked the board to reopen the record and reschedule the hearing to submit an updated plan of operation; the board granted the request and rescheduled the item. Outcome: record reopened/rescheduled (postponed).

- 217127 W. Lisbon Ave. (day‑care center expansion to serve up to 79 children across two units): Approved for a 5‑year period, subject to standard department conditions including maintenance of loading zone and continuity of operator for the two units. Outcome: approved, 5 years.

- 233341 W. Hopkins St. (light motor vehicle sales/repair and outdoor salvage): Approved for a 5‑year period with conditions requiring the outdoor salvage to stay inside a fenced enclosure, landscaping be maintained and replacement of a chain‑link fence with an opaque screen by the deadline stipulated in staff conditions. Outcome: approved, 5 years.

- 246737 N. Petunia Ave. (light motor vehicle sales): Approved for 3 years with DPW limits on outside parking counts. Outcome: approved, 3 years.

- 254930 N. 30th St. (assembly hall — event space operated by 4 Generations Holdings): Approved for 5 years with conditions on parking plans and alcohol service controls (catered service or licensed operator). Outcome: approved, 5 years.

- 254712 N. Tetonia Ave. (hand car wash): Approved to run concurrent with the applicant’s other operation that expires 08/04/2029 (approval set to terminate the same date). Outcome: approved to run concurrent (expires 2029‑08‑04).

- 284357 N. 60th St. (light motor vehicle repair facility): Approved for 2 years with a clarified exterior vehicle limit (32 vehicles maximum outside). Outcome: approved, 2 years.

- 30414 N. Shepherd Ave. (6‑foot solid wood fence in side yard exceeding setback): Dimensional variance granted to run with the land. Outcome: approved (runs with land).

- 3815 N. Water St. (permanent window signage that reduces required glazing): DCD accepted revised plans and the board approved the dimensional variance to run with the land. Outcome: approved (runs with land).

- 318332 W. Lisbon Ave. (renewal — light motor vehicle sales/repair): Following department discussion of prior enforcement items, the board approved a one‑year renewal with conditions including a strict outside‑parking limit and continuous cleanliness of the lot while open. Outcome: approved, 1 year.

- 32518 W. Cherry St. (Pathfinders: social‑service facility / drop‑in center for youth): Approved for 10 years. Outcome: approved, 10 years.

- 343763 N. 20th St. (family day‑care home, up to 8 children): Approved for 2 years. Outcome: approved, 2 years.

- 350? (308205 N. 15th St. — tobacco and e‑cigarette retailer): The applicant was given time to revise the plan of operation and the item was adjourned at the applicant’s request to allow reworking of inventory/food‑market mix. Outcome: adjourned for resubmission.

- 365421 W. Keefe Ave. (addition to single‑family dwelling exceeding lot coverage — dimensional variance): Approved to run with the land. Outcome: approved (runs with land).

- 3725209 W. Hampton Ave. (day‑care center, 50 children, expanded hours): Approved for 3 years with conditions; DCD asked that city‑owned adjacent parcel not be incorporated into the daycare footprint and DPW urged a drop‑off/loading approach that avoids backing into the street. Outcome: approved, 3 years.

- 3830305 W. National Ave. (motor vehicle repair / outdoor storage continuation): Approved for 5 years with conditions limiting the number of vehicles outside, prohibition on parking over sidewalks, and timely removal of inoperable vehicles. Outcome: approved, 5 years.

- 395501 W. Mill Rd. (hand car wash / light motor vehicle wholesale): Approved for 5 years; applicant clarified hours of operation to be filed as an amendment to the plan of operation. Outcome: approved, 5 years.

- 405404 W. Spring Ln. (adult family home for four occupants): Approved for 5 years. Outcome: approved, 5 years.

- 41724 W. Forest Home Ave. (new operator for light motor vehicle repair): Approved for 5 years. Outcome: approved, 5 years.

- 43806 W. Layton Ave. (tobacco/e‑cigarette retailer — change of operator): DCD reported evidence that a tobacco retailer occupied the storefronts prior to the 2023 moratorium and the 2023 ordinance that now restricts new retailers. Given that timeline and the prior operator’s work to secure inspections, the board granted a 10‑year approval conditioned on the new operator completing outstanding permit steps and complying with licensing. Outcome: approved, 10 years (change of operator; outstanding occupancy/inspection items to be completed promptly).

- 1417 W. Morgan Ave. (side‑yard fence height variance): Approved; the new fence aligns with neighboring fencing and was approved to run with the land. Outcome: approved (runs with land).

- 4620 S. Howell Ave. (carport — lot coverage variance): Granted to run with the land. Outcome: approved (runs with land).

- 329 & 339 E. Stewart St. (Noble Catering — assembly hall / event campus): Approved for 15 years. Outcome: approved, 15 years.

- 492968 S. Chase Ave. (religious assembly hall): Approved for 3 years (item had been pulled from an earlier consent agenda at a party’s request). Outcome: approved, 3 years.

- 503216 S. New York Ave. (addition to detached garage with habitable space — dimensional variance): Approved to run with the land. Outcome: approved (runs with land).

Board votes and conditions

Most approvals were unanimous on roll call with the full board present; where departments had concerns the board imposed conditions requested by DPW, DCD or DNS. Common conditions across vehicle‑related approvals included hard caps on the number of vehicles stored outside (examples recorded in staff recommendations: 5, 20, 32, 35 cars depending on site), no parking over sidewalks or driveway aprons, that outdoor salvage remain within fenced enclosures, and submission/implementation deadlines for landscaping or opaque screening of chain‑link fences. For assembly and event uses, the board required that operators secure off‑street parking for events exceeding 100 attendees and that alcohol service be limited to licensed caterers or licensed on‑site operators as required by Neighborhood Services.

Tobacco policy note

City staff reminded the board that the Common Council enacted an ordinance in June 2023 restricting the location and licensing of new tobacco and e‑cigarette retailers near schools, playgrounds and existing tobacco retailers. In one case (806 W. Layton Ave.) Department of City Development (DCD) found evidence that a tobacco retailer had been established and operating in the storefronts before the moratorium and before the 2023 zoning change; on that basis the board granted a change‑of‑operator approval but required the new operator to complete any outstanding permit inspections and licensing steps. In a separate case the applicant was directed to revise the plan of operation (including the percentage of inventory devoted to tobacco products and any grocery/food‑market mix) and return with a clarified plan.

Meeting context and next steps

Board members repeatedly emphasized that approvals tied to ongoing operations or significant redevelopment will carry conditions intended to protect the public right‑of‑way, maintain site cleanliness and prevent nuisance storage. Applicants seeking longer‑term certainty (for example the Stewart Street redevelopment) were able to justify extended approval terms by citing large capital investments and the industrial nature of the site.

The board recessed and will consider any resubmitted or rescheduled items at its next available public hearing date; applicants were instructed to submit plan of operation revisions or outstanding inspection paperwork promptly so staff can complete administrative review prior to the next hearing cycle.

Ending

Detailed staff conditions and plan‑of‑operation requirements are recorded in each case file at the Board of Zoning Appeals and in the city’s permitting portal. Several applicants were told to follow up with the BOSA office or licensing divisions to finalize signage, liquor licensing or hours in writing so the approved uses reflect the agreed conditions.