Camp Bar in Shorewood looks to add an outdoor dining space and outdoor kitchen

Claudia Levens, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·4 min read
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Fans of the Camp Bar in Shorewood might soon be able to enjoy the bar’s unique atmosphere on a patio outside.

The Shorewood Plan Commission Tuesday unanimously approved a conditional use permit and parking exception that will allow Camp Bar to expand its 4044 N. Oakland Ave. location.

The two actions will enable Shorewood resident Paul Hackbarth of Hackbarth Commercial, proprietor of Camp Bar, to move forward with repurposing the parking spots behind the building for an outdoor dining space.

As part of Hackbarth’s proposal, the bar, which celebrated its 11th year in Shorewood in November, will also add fire pits, landscaping and an outdoor kitchen.

Hackbarth’s proposal projects that the changes would allow for an additional 30 customers per hour.

During the meeting, the commission considered five letters supporting the changes and one letter opposing them.

Hackbarth's layout plan for the rear patio and outdoor space gives a rough outline of how the area would look.
Hackbarth's layout plan for the rear patio and outdoor space gives a rough outline of how the area would look.

Move will exempt bar from village's off-street parking rules

In particular, the parking exception exempts Camp Bar from Shorewood’s off-street parking rules that require one parking space per unit. There are four residential units on the upper level of the building.

In the application Hackbarth submitted to the commission, he said the parking spaces are not being utilized by the residents upstairs and that the parking requirements can be met by other nearby spaces.

The next step before Hackbarth can start using the space is for the Design Review Board to approve his proposal. The village has not yet scheduled the meeting or posted its agenda.

As part of Hackbarth’s proposal, the bar, which celebrated its 11th year in Shorewood in November, would also add fire pits, landscaping and an outdoor kitchen.
As part of Hackbarth’s proposal, the bar, which celebrated its 11th year in Shorewood in November, would also add fire pits, landscaping and an outdoor kitchen.

The commission heard concerns over noise levels

The supportive letters spoke to the benefits of expanding Camp Bar for both Hackbarth’s business and the neighborhood.

“The minor inconveniences of intoxicated customers, weekend traffic and noise have not risen to the level of serious or detrimental to the block. It’s a residential block adjacent to a commercial area, it’s expected,” nearby residents Kate Mikkelsen and Paul Rossetto said in a letter to the commission.

However, they did have concerns about increased noise after 10 p.m. and requested the permit include a restriction on operating the patio area past that time.

Tom Lang submitted the sole letter opposing Hackbarth’s requests, raising concerns about the noise level and smoke nuisance.

He said the current noise levels have already driven Lang and his wife out of their home on particularly rowdy days and incited harassment when they’ve asked drunk disturbers to leave.

Later in the discussion, Planning and Development Director Bart Griepentrog told the commission that staff consulted Shorewood Police Department officials who said there were only five cases of disorderly activity within the past two years.

Lang also noted that the potential smoke nuisance created by the outdoor kitchen would threaten the well-being of his wife, who has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

“If allowed, this conversion will worsen what has already been a long-standing nuisance from Camp Bar and its intoxicated patrons,” Lang said in his letter.

In response to these concerns, Hackbarth said, “I do want to be a good neighbor. I don't want to push the envelope. I don't want to have angry neighbors."

He explained that the Camp Bar has experience operating an outdoor space near residential units at its Wauwatosa location.

“It's (open until) 10 o'clock on school nights and 11 o'clock on weekends. And that's how we've always operated the hours of our patio. (By that time,) the music’s off, the TV’s off, and everyone’s inside.”

Village President Ann McKaig, who also lives near other Shorewood bars, said she enjoys the exciting bustle that comes with the noise levels.

"I can hear people at the businesses, but I actually love that sound and none of my neighbors are complaining about it," she said.

A bird's eye view shows that the parking area where Hackbarth hopes to add an outdoor patio is unused.
A bird's eye view shows that the parking area where Hackbarth hopes to add an outdoor patio is unused.

At the start of the conversation, McKaig disclosed that Hackbarth donated to her 2021 campaign for village board president. She explained that the donation had previously been construed as a potential conflict of interest during considerations of other applications from Hackbarth.

However, McKaig said she was advised by Village Attorney Nathan Bayer that there is no reason to recuse herself, since Hackbarth's donation amount didn’t reach legal thresholds for a conflict of interest.

“My position is that we work hard to be elected and once elected, I'm not going to give up my vote as a woman, a resident and a long time public servant,” she said.

Village Board Trustee Kathy Stokebrand attended the meeting and celebrated McKaig’s transparency. However, she said that while the donation might not meet legal thresholds, she still doesn't believe it is entirely ethical for McKaig to vote on the proposal.

Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Camp Bar in Shorewood plans to add outdoor dining space