Council OKs Wauwatosa Mixed-Use Development Amendment

WAUWATOSA, WI—A proposed mixed-use development amendment during Tuesday's Wauwatosa Common Council meeting was given the green light.

The UWM Innovation Campus is a mixed-use development is on 89 acres in the city of Wauwatosa's Life Sciences District.

The Council recommended approval of proposed mixed-use development amendment affecting two buildings at 9480 Watertown Plank Road.

The vote was 12-3 with Alderman Tim Hanson, Alderperson Nancy Welch and Alderman Michael Walsh who were the dissenting votes.

The developer, Irgens, requested an amendment to its Phase 1 development, which includes two buildings.

The proposed amendment modifies one of the buildings by adding garden-level office space instead of a full level of underground parking, according to online city documents.

The proposed change would increase the floor space to 70,000 square feet, with 91 parking spaces (22 underground and 69 surface spots).

The garden level adds a third floor.

To offset the changes to the first building, the second building remains a six-story building but is reduced to 178,000 square feet, with 269 parking spaces (88 underground and 181 surface spots), the documents said.

Bird-Friendly Glass Motion

In a Oct. 12 Community Affairs meeting, several people voiced concerns about the bird habitat and not having bird friendly glass, according to city documents said.

On Tuesday, Alderperson Nancy Welch made a motion to amend the resolution to include a condition that the developer use bird friendly glass on the building.

Welch voiced concern about living up to the original principles of Innovation Park, which was supposed to establish some precedents for environmentally sensitive designing construction, she said.

She said there bird friendly principles are important because the project is on a migratory path.

"We do have the opportunity to make a real and significant statement about what the City of Wauwatosa believes about birds, environmental sensitivity and wanting to push the envelope a little for innovative practice," Welch said.

Alderman Matt Stippich mentioned the approval was based on 15 conditions such as providing detailed building costs, construction costs, and income and expenses. The buildings need to be designed with environmental sensitivity principles, the documents said.

Stippich said the green roof and no parking on that level contributes to the "dark sky aspect which all influences the bird sensitivity."

He questioned if there anything the Council would be adding with Welch's motion.

Alderman Mike Morgan said there was a previous development which included bird-friendly glass which was rejected.

"I think that's just one item to cite when it comes to the promotion of bird [friendly] glass. That we rejected that development that was going to voluntarily include bird glass," Morgan said.

The motion failed in a 6-9 vote with Stippich, Joel Tilleson, Michael Walsh, Allison Byrne, Kathy Causier, Rob Gustafson, Jason Kofroth, James Moldenhauer and Morgan being the dissenting votes.

The proposal will go back to the Community Affairs Committee for reconsideration.