Brookfield officials say no to controversial mixed-use development on Capitol Drive
Almost 70 Brookfield residents on May 2 let officials know they opposed the controversial mixed-used development planned for the corner of Capitol Drive and Lilly Road.
The project, originally proposed in July, ultimately failed with an 11-3 common council vote in favor of a resolution to deny the four-story development.
Rezoning to allow for the construction of 75 apartments and 16,000 square feet of retail space, predominantly filled by local bike shop Wheel & Sprocket, was approved in November. Brookfield's plan commission then approved $3.5 million in city funding for the project in the form of an Environmental Remediation Tax Increment District, which would've covered the cleanup costs of the contaminated site, formerly occupied by AAMCO Transmissions.
The building was nearing approval in March when developers presented updates and revisions to the project to the common council. The altered plans, such as lowering the building by one story and removing 10 single-family townhomes, were made to meet community concerns.
However, residents' concerns that the 2-acre property was too small for the development remained, and the majority of the council shut the project down May 2.
The project was denied because it would negatively affect the health, safety and welfare of the city, according to city documents.
Reasons include the building's proposed size and height compared to other properties on Capitol Drive and clashing with the neighborhood's established character, the resolution to deny the proposal said.
Among those in support of the project was Ald. Mike Hallquist.
The proposal would have retained the site's neighbor, Wheel and Sprocket, as a long-term small business and employer, remediated damaged soil and diversified Brookfield's housing mix to provide "much-needed apartments, revitalizing a blighted property, and expanding the city's property tax base," said Hallquist in a press release.
“As our commercial buildings continue to age in place, and our greenfield development opportunities decrease, I worry about Brookfield transforming into a 'BANANA' community: Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything," Hallquist added.
Quinn Clark can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Quinn_A_Clark
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brookfield Common Council denies Wheel and Sprocket proposal
