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Plan Commission approves amendment to Tax Incremental District No. 29, adding North Street properties
Summary
The Waukesha City Plan Commission unanimously adopted a resolution amending the project plan and boundaries of Tax Incremental District (TID) No. 29 to include properties along North Street; staff said the change sets a redevelopment framework but does not extend the district —statute life or give the city eminent domain powers.
The Waukesha City Plan Commission on Aug. 5 unanimously approved a resolution to amend the project plan and boundaries of Tax Incremental District No. 29, adding territory primarily along North Street.
Jeff, a city staff member, summarized the amendment and told the commission the added parcels are being included to account for potential redevelopment linked to a new water utility facility near Chapman Drive and to update project assumptions after rising construction and labor costs. "A TID is not a precursor to any sort of acquisition of property by the city via eminent domain or any other means," Jeff said, adding that redevelopment would proceed only with property-owner interest.
The amendment establishes a framework for future projects but does not commit the city to fund specific developments, Jeff said. He described the standard process for any future project: a term sheet presented to Common Council, then, if approved in principle, a TIF development agreement that would go through finance and council review. Jeff also outlined the near-term schedule: the Common Council will consider a companion resolution on Aug. 6, and the Joint Review Board for taxing jurisdictions in Waukesha will meet Sept. 4 to consider its resolutions.
During the discussion, Commissioner Frankloor asked what prompted the addition. Jeff said the water utility's new facility creates a likely redevelopment catalyst and that staff had discussed potential interest from North Street property owners. Commissioner Kelly asked about a previous Barstow proposal and whether historic buildings constrain redevelopment; Jeff said the earlier project is not currently moving forward and that, aside from a possibility that the Weber Brewing building is listed on the National Register, there are no local landmark-designated properties in the immediate corridor.
Members of the public raised questions during the meeting's public-comment period. Bob Sewell, of Madison Street, said the 2020 plan listed nearby Madison Street homes as "commercial and residential" and questioned why the current map labels the area a "commercial corner." Jeff responded that the label is a generic project name and that the underlying planned land use remains mixed commercial and residential.
Frank Palm of Chicago Avenue asked whether adding territory to the TID changes its time frame, noting previous references to 2028. Jeff replied that adding territory does not extend the district's statutory life, though there are statutory limits on expenditure periods.
After brief discussion, the Mayor moved to adopt the resolution amending the project plan and boundaries for TID No. 29; a commissioner seconded and the commission conducted a voice vote. The motion passed unanimously.
The Common Council is scheduled to consider the companion resolution on Aug. 6, and the Joint Review Board will review the matter on Sept. 4, after which any individual development proposals would follow the city's term-sheet and development-agreement process.
