Milwaukee's Central Park Becoming a Reality

Background

Milwaukee Riverkeeper and our partners on the Milwaukee River Work Group have been continuing to work hard on passing the Milwaukee River Greenway Overlay District legislation, which will protect over 8 miles of river, floodplain, and riverfront habitat from the former North Avenue Dam to Silver Spring Road. This legislation will create a special zoning overlay district, which will protect the primary environmental corridor or sensitive lands along the river from future development and vegetation removal activities.

What's happening now

After years of community outreach and negotiations with property owners and the Department of City Development, the Common Council is now poised this summer to convert the temporary study overlay into permanent zoning and design guidelines. This zoning would help to preserve the aesthetic and function of our river and can provide for continued use of and greening of the area.

Please explore the new draft and send comments this April and May to Alderman Nic Kovac, to Alderwoman Coggs and Alderman Hamilton, to Mayor Barrett, and to the Milwaukee River Work Group.

After processing information from the community, we are hoping to pass the final version in May.

Resources

• Milwaukee River Greenway Site Plan Review Overlay Zone Design Standards

• Substitute ordinance relating to tree protection in the Milwaukee River greenway overlay zone

• Substitute ordinance relating to storm water management regulations applicable to properties within the Milwaukee River greenway overlay zone

• Grassroots Protection - Our MIlwaukee River (Riverwest Currents Article by Ald. Kovac)

Next Steps

We need friends and members to come to several City meetings coming up in the next few months to support creation of this Overlay District.  They are at the following times/days:

• City Planning Commission (overlay file): Monday, May 3rd at 1:30 at the DCD building (809 N. Broadway Ave)
  
   
• Public Works (storm water and forestry files): Wednesday, May 12th at 9 AM at 301B, Milwaukee City Hall.
  
   
• Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development (overlay file): Tuesday, May 18th, 9 AM at 301B, Milwaukee City Hall.
  
   
• Common Council (final approval of all files): Tuesday, May 25th, 9 AM at 3rd Floor Common Council Chambers, Milwaukee City Hall.

Once approved by the Common Council, files are submitted to the Mayor for signature and are "official" one day after passage and publication by the City Clerk.

For more information check out the recent article in the Journal-Sentinel by clicking here.