Nearly 500 apartments proposed in Oak Creek

Two new apartment developments, totaling nearly 500 units, are being proposed for Oak Creek — where one other large apartment community won approval this summer.

Decker Properties Inc. wants to develop a project with 294 units on around 25 acres at 8100 and 8146 S. 27th St. and 8100 S. Orchard Way.

The Brookfield-based firm also is proposing a development with 192 units on around 11 acres at 441 W. Ryan Road.

The Plan Commission is to review those conceptual proposals, which call for units ranging from one to three bedrooms, at its Tuesday night meeting.

That review is limited to a discussion of the projects, according to the meeting agenda. Commission members will not vote on whether to approve the plans.

City staffers have concerns “regarding the proposed density, scale of buildings and configuration” in the South 27th Street proposal, which Decker is calling The Oaks at 8100.

It would feature larger buildings, ranging from 27 to 48 units, which don’t appear to complement “building types and sizes more commonly found in traditional mixed residential settings,” a city report said.

The Oaks at 8100 would have nine three-story buildings, with underground parking, that Decker would develop in phases, according to the plans.

The firm hopes to begin construction next spring if the project receives Common Council approval. The final building would be completed in November 2021.

Decker is proposing the same construction schedule for the other proposal, known as Station 441.

It would feature six three-story buildings with underground parking. Each building would have 30 to 33 units.

City staffers have similar concerns the proposed density, scale of buildings and their configuration.

Also, the site “is isolated from services and amenities with limited prospects for walkability or connectivity,” a city report said.

However, Decker said it would be within a short walk of a business park where Amazon.com Inc. is planning to develop a new distribution center that would have over 1,000 employees.

Decker’s proposals come as Oak Creek continues to see strong demand for housing — fueled in part by a growing number of jobs in that city and other nearby communities.

City officials this summer approved the $35 million Orchard Hills, which HSI Properties LLC plans to develop just south of Decker’s proposed Oaks at 8100 project.

Orchard Hills is to have 225 units, with 15 to 20 units for each building.