Menomonee Valley Area Plan

Plan Updates

Pierce and Bruce Street Sub-District Plan (Underway)

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. Currently, most parcels are zoned Industrial Heavy, though there are some exceptions. 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 key purpose of this project is to analyze this area, connect with local businesses, and ultimately provide recommendations to the City of Milwaukee which can be used to make future decisions regarding land use in this area.

Draft Plan now available! 

The next step is the adoption process.  The Plan will need to be formally adopted as an ordinance by the Common Council.  There are two important meetings as part of the adoption process, including a public hearing: 

• The Bruce and Pierce Sub-District Plan will be considered for recommendation at the City Plan Commission's meeting on November 6, 2023.  
• A public hearing will take place on December 5, 2023 at the Committee on Zoning, Neighborhood & Development. 

Open House to discuss Draft Plan

When: October 26, 2023 from 3pm-5pm

Where: All Hands Boatworks, located at 621 S. 12th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204

Format: Open House, stop by whenever you're available!

For those who missed this meeting, click here for the exhibits.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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