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Planning commission approves public outreach plan for Milwaukee County Research Park master plan
Summary
The Planning Commission voted 6-0 to establish a public participation plan to guide a master plan for the Milwaukee County Research Park. The outreach will be led by a property owner’s consultant team and will include online mapping, stakeholder interviews, open houses and required city hearings; staff said the work is being done under a contract
The Wauwatosa Planning Commission voted 6-0 to establish a public participation plan to guide a master plan for the Milwaukee County Research Park.
Staff said the city approved an agreement earlier this year with Ergen's Partners LLC (identified in the record with inconsistent spellings) to collaborate on a master plan intended to enhance long‑term viability, property values and the tax base for the park; goals also include improving bicycle and pedestrian connections, traffic calming, beautifying public spaces and diversifying property types. Epstein Uhan Architects is contracted by the property owner to lead the planning and outreach.
Outreach elements described for the public participation plan include an online mapping survey, stakeholder interviews, promotion on the city's website and social media, a public open house, and the required sequence of city meetings that will include a public hearing, Plan Commission review and a Common Council adoption vote. Staff told the commission the property owner is contracting directly with the consultant team and that the city will be a partner; staff said no city taxpayer dollars will be spent on the consultant contract.
Commission discussion focused on who will be defined as stakeholders and whether Milwaukee County land might be implicated. Commissioners identified likely stakeholders including Research Park board members, the Technical Technology Innovation Center, Ergen's (the primary property owner), nearby property owners and residents and businesses along Mayfair Road. Staff said stakeholder lists and further outreach details will be refined with the consultant and returned to the commission.
Vote and next steps: The commission approved the public participation plan 6-0. Staff said additional details on stakeholder identification and the outreach schedule will be provided to the commission; the action is a study step, not a rezoning, and any rezoning would be a separate process requiring further hearings.
