Business park proposal consideration delayed
Officials concerned about lack of public comment during pandemic
Milwaukee County officials will wait to consider a proposal to allow a privately developed business park to replace a shelved University of WisconsinMilwaukee plan to develop research buildings in Wauwatosa.
The decision to postpone again was due to concerns about the limits on public participation brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I want to be respectful of the public and hear their voices in regards to this item,” said Supervisor Felesia Martin, who chairs the County Board’s Economic and Community Development Committee that was slated to consider the measure Monday.
She said she wanted to hold the item over until September.
The County Board and its committees have been meeting virtually since the coronavirus pandemic forced limits on the number of people who could physically gather. That has meant members of the public who might normally attend a meeting in person to give verbal testimony have instead had to submit their input in writing.
The measure was previously held over in April over the same concern.
An affiliate of Irgens Partners LLC is seeking to buy from an affiliate of UWM about 25 acres at the Innovation Campus site located east of I-41 and north of West Watertown Plank Road.
The County Board must change its development agreement with UWM Innovation Park LLC in order to allow Irgens Partners to develop a business park on the land instead of university facilities that the university had planned.