Officials are continuing to fine tune the plans for Ballpark Commons, and could release more information on the proposal early next month.
Ballpark Commons is a proposal from developers Mike Zimmerman and Blair Williams that will feature a new independent league ballpark, along with mixed-use amenities as part of a larger development. The proposal took a big step forward with last September’s vote from the Franklin, WI Common Council that granted approval for a TIF, but it is still taking shape.
As we noted when the TIF was approved, the development features some complexities, as it being planned for the site of a former landfill. With that in mind, officials are hoping to plan the project in a way that minimizes environmental concerns.
More information should be released on March 6, but in the meantime, officials want to iron out many of the details, as explained by alderman Steve Taylor and Franklin economic development director Aaron Hertzberg. More from South Now:
“It’s a project that I would have loved to have had the shovel in the ground six months ago, but the developer’s not there yet, and the county’s not there yet,” Taylor explained. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years…and this is the most complex (project) I’ve been involved in.”
To address the environmental concerns with the project, particularly caused by the historic landfill, Hertzberg said the development team has been “going through their review so they can appropriately analyze and prepare…a submittal for approval of activities on the site.”
Hertzberg added that the development team is working on a more specific site plan that the will address the different requirements from the Department of Natural Resources, county, and other entities.
“The site plan that I believe we’ll see on March 6 will be much closer to what we will expect to see come out of the ground,” Hertzberg said.
The project has been linked to the American Association, which could field a team at the ballpark within the development.
RELATED STORIES: Franklin Approves New-Ballpark Development TIF; Franklin Ballpark Could Open in 2018; TIF District Proposed for Ballpark Commons; Franklin Ballpark Plan Moves Forward; Franklin moves forward with new ballpark planning; Initial approval sought for new Franklin (WI) ballpark