Wauwatosa high-rise tower plans still being reviewed by design board
Plans for a Wauwatosa high-rise tower are likely nearing a final approval by the city’s design review board, even as some nearby neighbors continue to call for the developers to downsize the project.
The 28-story building, to be developed at the southwest corner of West Blue Mound and North Mayfair roads, has come before the design review board twice in recent weeks to discuss the aesthetic aspects of the building.
It’s ultimately up to the design review board to approve the building permit for the building, as the project doesn’t need approval by the plan commission or common council because it fits as a “permitted use” in the C2 zoning district.
Developer John “Johnny V” Vasallo came back to the city with revised plans for the site in November after he withdrew plans in February for a 25-story, 340-unit apartment tower at the site.
However, some board members discussed whether the tower was still appropriate for the surrounding neighborhood during a Dec. 16 meeting.
Design Review Board member Gary Woodward said he doesn’t disagree with the aesthetics of the tower but he does have an issue with where the tower would be placed.
Woodward believes it’s up to the board to consider whether the project is appropriate for the site.
“It’s not that it’s not a beautiful building, because it is; you guys have done a great job with it,” Woodward said. “But not here, and I think that’s the issue and that’s what we’re here to determine, as well, because that’s part of our charge.”
Attorney Joe Cincotta, who represents the nearby neighbors, also asked that the board either table or deny the project.
He asked for new plans from the developer with a more appropriate height and a plan that “creates a better transition to the neighborhood.”
In addition to the aesthetics of the building, city ordinances for the board also say the design review board shall consider “the site location and proposed location of the structure on the building site,”
But in an email to a nearby resident, Wauwatosa city attorney Alan Kesner said the design review board “only reviews the exterior design, not the use itself, and has no authority to stop the project from moving forward.”
Glenn Roby, executive vice president of the architecture firm Kahler Slater, said the project is also permitted for the site.
“This is a unique opportunity, and to simply call it out as non-compliant because it’s not the same as you may have expected it to be, doesn’t take away the fact that it is within the landowner’s right to build to this size, as long as it’s compliant with the zoning laws,” Roby said.