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More Information Needed on New Ballpark Development: Franklin

Franklin development plan

The Franklin (WI) Common Council wants to see more information about a proposed ballpark development in the Milwaukee suburb before construction can begin on the project, according to city officials.

The amount of additional information sought by Franklin’s Department of Community Development is pretty extensive. Developer Mike Zimmerman, who is already an active owner of summer-collegiate teams in the Prospect League, wants to build a 2,500-seat ballpark (with a total capacity of 4,000) for an independent American Association team and the UW-Milwaukee Panthers, a year-round indoor sports complex with four Little League-sized fields and retail/restaurants, at least one hotel (or two) with up to 220 rooms, office, retail and 200 or more luxury apartments.

The application will be heard by a planning committee Thursday and the full Common Council on April 4. Before there’s any construction on the project or consideration of a tax-increment financing district (TID) and state economic-development aid, the city wants to see Zimmerman provide lots and lots of additional data. From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

Additional details sought by the department include a break down of Zimmerman’s estimated $110 million to $130 million project value; architectural drawings of the proposed buildings, and additional information on the project’s sewer and water service impacts.

Also, the report says the developer should provide information on how Ballpark Commons is compatible with existing adjacent land uses, and “is not contrary to the general welfare and economic prosperity of the immediate neighborhoods.”…

In addition, the department is recommending Zimmerman provide a separate market analysis, storm water management plan, architectural and site design plan, general landscape plan, parking study, traffic impact analysis, street design plan, and bike and pedestrian plan.

Some of those additional studies “could result in significant changes to the layout of this project,” the department report said.

RELATED STORIES: Franklin moves forward with new ballpark planning; Initial approval sought for new Franklin (WI) ballpark

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