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Council approves height exemption for Pier Street mixed‑use building despite neighborhood objections
Summary
The council approved a special exemption Nov. 4 letting a proposed four‑story mixed‑use building at 115 E. Pier St. exceed the 35‑foot downtown review trigger after plan and design boards recommended approval.
The City of Port Washington Common Council on Nov. 4 approved a special exemption to allow a proposed four‑story Pier Street mixed‑use building at 115 East Pier Street to exceed the 35‑foot downtown review trigger. The vote followed a public hearing in which downtown residents said the building would tower over existing historic structures and set an unfavorable precedent.
The developer and city staff said the site’s 13‑foot elevation change, required underground parking, and building massing (setbacks, jogs and parapet screening) make the proposed average height of about 55 feet necessary to achieve the stated unit mix and provide high‑quality materials. City staff explained the special‑exception process is a case‑by‑case review for downtown and does not change the entire district’s height limits; Plan Commission and Design Review Board had recommended approval.
Neighbors and preservation advocates
Several neighbors testified in opposition, saying the proposed height would undermine downtown’s historic, small‑scale character and effectively allow future taller buildings by precedent. Speakers asked why the city would grant an exception where the council had earlier expressed a preference for preserving scale near the lake. Staff and some council members said an upcoming zoning rewrite will clarify block‑by‑block heights and that this site’s slope and design features reduce visual impact.
Council decision and next steps
The council approved the exemption by voice vote (motion by Alderman Plater; second by Alderman Neuer). Staff said there will be no net loss of public parking because the site was a private lot and the project includes on‑site parking. The applicant must proceed with building and site plan permits and satisfy standard design and site conditions set by the Design Review Board and Plan Commission.
Ending
Council members noted the Pier Street decision will inform the downtown zoning rewrite now under development and emphasized review on a block‑by‑block basis rather than changing citywide height standards.
