Plan Amendments

Pierce and Bruce Street Sub-District Plan 

In June 2023, the City of Milwaukee initiated a planning effort focused on the Pierce and Bruce Sub-district area of Menomonee Valley. The goal of this effort was to develop a framework of recommendations for evaluating the current zoning in the Pierce and Bruce Sub-district area of the Menomonee Valley Business Improvement District (BID), which was recently expanded to include businesses in the Pierce and Bruce Sub-district area.  This project is an extension of the Citywide Milwaukee Industrial Land Use Study (adopted in 2021) and will update the Valley 2.0 Plan. The sub-district plan analyzes this area, considers input from local businesses, and provides recommendations to make future decisions regarding land use in this area.

 

FINAL PLAN

Adopted by the Common Council on June 11, 2024 following a public hearing at the Committee on Zoning, Neighborhood & Development on June 4, 2024.

 

Minor Plan Amendment relating to 324 N. 15th Street

The Minor Plan Amendment amends the MVP 2.0 to update the land use recommendations applicable to 324 North 15th Street to state that if the building is no longer feasible for industrial, office or other commercial uses, the land uses for this building should be permitted to transition to residential uses if such a transition is required to preserve the historic structure.

The minor plan amendement was approved by the Common Council on November 26, 2024, following a public hearing at the Committee of Zoning, Neighborhood, and Development on November 19, 2024. The ordinance is linked here and available online in Legistar File # 240199.

Supporting Projects

Menomonee Valley Riverwalk Designs Underway

In July 2017, Milwaukee’s Common Council approved proposals for a design overlay to extend the Milwaukee Riverwalk along the Menomonee River in the Valley, a major recommendation and catalytic project outlined in the Valley 2.0 Plan. The Menomonee Valley Riverwalk Overlay reserves 25 feet along the Menomonee River for a future Valley Riverwalk as redevelopment occurs. The riverwalk would begin at the existing segment in the Third Ward where the Milwaukee and Menomonee rivers meet and extend about two miles west to Three Bridges Park.

The overlay district will ensure redevelopment projects are compatible and integrated with their neighbors, more pedestrian friendly in design and scale, and more completely integrated in overall urban design. A continuous system of Riverwalks on both sides of the Menomonee River, connecting with and overlapping the Hank Aaron State Trail will be a great asset and amenity for all.

To view the design guidelines, CLICK here.

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Menomonee Valley Sustainable Design Guidelines Updated

In 2004 the Menomonee Valley Partners and the City of Milwaukee established sustainable building design guidelines for new development projects in the Menomonee Valley.  Intended primarily for the then newly-created Menomonee Valley Industrial Center , the Sustainable Design Guidelines for the Menomonee Valley were put in place to ensure high-quality redevelopment, environmental sensitivity and energy efficient construction in the Valley.  Today, the Menomonee Valley Industrial Center is nearing full capacity and combined with the age of the original guidelines the need for updating them was clear.  Approved by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee (RACM) at its September, 2017 meeting, the updated guidelines are applied Valley-wide and required for any new building development or major renovation project receiving financial or land sale assistance from the City of Milwaukee or RACM.

CLICK here for a copy of the Sustainable Design Guidelines and HERE for a Guidelines Evaluation Form for tracking compliance.  

For more information about the Menomonee Valley Sustainable Design Guidelines, CLICK here.

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Valley Riverwalk Overlay Approved

At its July 11th, 2017 meeting, the Common Council approved the Menomonee Valley Riverwalk Overlay which will use this new zoning designation to "bookmark" the rivers edge along the Menomonee River for a future Valley Riverwalk as redevelopment occurs.  This overlay will mark the first expansion of the Milwaukee Riverwalk beyond its original course.

As part of the Valley Riverwalk, Design Standards have been created to guide development along the future Riverwalk system.  CLICK here to learn more.

To learn more about the Milwaukee Riverwalk, CLICK here. 

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Previous Plans & Studies

The Menomonee Valley 2.0 is the update to the 1998 Menomonee Valley plan, "Market Study, Engineering, and Land Use Plan for the Menomonee Valley. Read the 1998 Valley Plan.

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For additional information on Menomonee Valley 2.0, visit the Menomonee Valley Partners.

Menomonee Valley Plan Area Maps

 (click here to view a larger map of the plan area)

 (click here to view a larger map of the plan area)

Recent Development in the Menomonee River Valley Area View larger image of development map.   updated Aug '13     Recent Development in the Menomonee Valley Business Park  updated Aug '15 Solaris (Coming Soon). A new 68,000-square-foot headquarters and production facility Rishi Tea. Company headquarters - a  48,000-square-foot office and manufacturing facility Potowatomi Hotel Design. 382 room hotel, a $150 Million investment in the Valley J.F. Ahern Co. new facility. Regional Offices - A 52,000-square-foot on a 4.7-acre site Ingeteam - A $15 million facility to manufacture equipment for renewable energy projects. This is Ingeteam's first manufacturing facility in the United States. Derse's new LEED-certified Milwaukee headquarters     Charter Wire's new $20 million production facility   Taylor Dynamometer moved from New Berlin to a new 43,350-square-foot plant.   Caleffi's new headquarters in the Menomonee Valley     Badger Railing built a new facility in the Valley in 2007.   Palermo Villa was the first employer to locate in the Menomonee Valley Business Park.     Other Development in the Menomonee Valley  updated Aug '13 Urban Ecology Center. Adjoining the Hank Aaron State Trail and Three Bridges Park, the UEC connects the business park and the neighborhood City Lights - Long abandoned Milwaukee Gas Light Co., designed by Alexander C. Eschweiler, was transformed into the headquarters for Zimmerman Architectural Studios Inc. Canal Street Commerce Center - A new, sustainably - designed, multi-tenant facility. Sigma Engineering constructed a new 28,000 square foot corporate office located on a three-acre Brownfield site.