Shorewood officials want to update their commercial zoning code. Here's what could change.
Shorewood officials want to update the village's commercial zoning code so developers looking to submit proposals have clearer guidelines for their projects along the commercial corridors on Capitol Drive and Oakland Avenue.
The initiative was created in response to some recent redevelopments in Shorewood, including the Metro Market and Mosaic projects, said the village's Planning and Development Director Bart Griepentrog.
Not only would the proposed code include building height limits along the corridor, it also provides requirements for design and landscaping.
The plan allows buildings to be set further back to make room for open spaces, and would require step-backs for upper floors or courtyards on larger buildings. A full copy of the code can be found on the village's website at www.villageofshorewood.org.
The updated code doesn't change the building height limit — it's still four stories along Capitol Drive and Oakland Avenue.
There's an organized effort to try to reduce the height limit along the commercial corridor, said Griepentrog. The village has received multiple comments from residents who would like to see the height limits on the east side of Capitol Drive reduced from four to three stories.
The village has received at least one comment in favor of keeping the height limit at four stories, with a suggestion of increasing it to allow for additional housing, said Griepentrog.
The proposed plan would not change any current businesses located in the corridor. It is possible if in the future businesses are sold, that they would have to adhere to new guidelines in the code.
To get more feedback, the village is hosting an open house to answer any questions about the proposal on Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Village Hall, 3930 N Murray Ave.
"In Shorewood, people should really say what they think, because once the code is written, the approval process should be a lot simpler for developers and builders," said Plan Commission member Barbara Kiely Miller. "But there won't be as many opportunities for people to say, 'I don't like that.'"
"So now it's really the time to just take a little bit of time and look at what's working ... so when things do go up, it reflects what the residents want to maintain that village feeling while still having appropriate development," she added.
To update the code, the village hired Illinois-based Codametrics and Duncan Associates to work with Shorewood's Planning & Development Department and the Plan Commission.
On Oct. 25, a representative of Codametrics presented an overview of the public review draft to the Plan Commission. An overview of the documents presented during that meeting can be found on the village's website at bit.ly/shorewoodpresentation.
Updating Shorewood's commercial code was one of the top actions within the Shorewood Comprehensive Plan 2040. The village wanted to focus on hybrid form-based code elements, which emphasize the physical character of development. This plan focuses on how development relates to the context of the surrounding area, according to the village.
Those with questions about the draft can contact Griepentrog at bgriepentrog@shorewoodwi.gov or call 414-847-2640.
Contact Alex Groth at agroth@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @grothalexandria.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Shorewood proposes changes to the village's commercial zoning code
