Zoning change may pave way for Destination development

The Saukville Plan Commission on Tuesday night recommended amending the village zoning code to allow fitness, recreation and sports facilities in traditional neighborhood development districts, opening the way for such facilities in the proposed Destination Saukville project.

The project proposed by Ansay Development extends north from Market Street near Piggly Wiggly around the Feith Family YMCA to an area roughly across from Applewood Drive.

A concept plan shows an indoor sports facility, coupled with a sports medicine office, in the northwest corner of the development. The sports facility may be an inflatable dome, as is used in other locations, or a metal building, officials said.

The facility would be near a commercial area and medium- to high-density housing, including single-family homes and multifamily residences.

About 39 acres in the project area are wetlands that will include walking trails, plus a road connecting the southern and northern parts of the development. 

The southern end of the project, according to the plan, would include a 100-yard-long plaza area with a splash pad, picnic area and grassy field that could accommodate 500 people. It would be surrounded by mixed-use development, including retail shops, offices, possibly apartments or condominiums and other facilities, officials said. 

In February, Ian McCain, design/construction manager for Ansay Development, told village officials the company hoped to begin construction this past spring on the project, which was first proposed in the early 2000s as Saukville Crossings.

“This is the first step of many, I hope,” Village President Barb Dickmann said after the commission vote. “It’s so good to see this thing moving forward.”

A traditional neighborhood development refers to the creation of a complete neighborhood using traditional town planning principles with a range of housing types, shops, public spaces and connected streets.

Village Administrator Dawn Wagner said a public hearing is tentatively scheduled on Aug. 4 to discuss the zoning code change.

McCain did not return a phone call seeking comment.