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Commission gives modified nod to Karl Campus plans

May 1st, 2012

The Whitefish Bay Plan Commission on April 17 voted unanimously to recommend approval of the proposed modifications to the development agreement governing operations at the Karl Jewish Community Campus.

The commission added a “friendly amendment” regarding the routing of automobile traffic on the campus during certain events to the list of modifications.

Representatives of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, owner of the campus, and of campus agencies present readily agreed to the amendment.

Mark Shapiro, executive director of the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, the largest organization in the campus’ south building, said he was “very pleased” with the results of the meeting, noting that the Plan Commission “recognized our willingness to work with our neighbors, our members, and members of the Whitefish Bay community” and that he “appreciated this opportunity to continue the constructive dialogue with those neighbors, members, and village leaders.”

The proposal now goes to the Village Board, which could act on the matter as early as May 7.

As reported in previous Chronicle issues (see April 2012), the modifications involve:

• Building two fences, one around the retention pond area, one around the front of the south building. The Whitefish Bay Architectural Review Committee recommended approval of these fences at its meeting on April 5.

• Allowing up to 30 events per year to end after the current limit of 11 p.m., but no later than 1 a.m.

Plan Commission members Mark Huber and Joseph Sauer recommended adding a “friendly amendment” to this provision requiring that traffic for such events be routed so car headlights would not flash into neighboring houses. Possible routes would be west to Port Washington Rd., or north to the parking lot and driveway at that end of the campus.

• Allowing the JCC to open at 5 a.m. Monday-Friday, instead of 6 a.m.; and allowing it to open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, instead of noon.

• Permitting snowplowing on the campus when needed, instead of no earlier than 5 a.m. and no later than 11 p.m.

• Increasing the number of allowed “special events” from 12 to 20 annually, and from no more than two per month to no more than four per month.

• Increasing the number of permitted participants in “overnights/lock-ins” from 40 to 150.

Village Attorney Christopher J. Jaekels prepared a memorandum dated March 21 listing conditions that the Village Board should use in evaluating the proposed changes for approval. These include:

• “The Development [sic] as proposed will create an environment of sustained desirability and stability and will not be detrimental to present and potential surrounding uses.”

• “The Development is in accord with the intent and purpose of the Planned Development Ordinance.”

• “The Development will contribute substantially to the improvement of the area in which the Development is to be located.”

• “The proposed use will not substantially diminish and impair property values in the neighborhood.”

• “The proposed Development will not lead to an undue concentration of population or the overcrowding of land.”

Leon Cohen