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Customer Information: Riverwalk Site Plan Review Overlay District (SPROD)

The document provides guidelines for development projects along the Milwaukee River to create pedestrian-friendly spaces that enhance access and appreciation of the river. Key guidelines include: (1) buildings facing the river should have windows and doors to improve appearance and pedestrian environment; (2) features detracting from river access should be discouraged; and (3) where possible, riverwalks should be on land and at least 12 feet wide to accommodate amenities like benches and trees. The document also lists submittal requirements for proposed projects.

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30 views2 pages

Customer Information: Riverwalk Site Plan Review Overlay District (SPROD)

The document provides guidelines for development projects along the Milwaukee River to create pedestrian-friendly spaces that enhance access and appreciation of the river. Key guidelines include: (1) buildings facing the river should have windows and doors to improve appearance and pedestrian environment; (2) features detracting from river access should be discouraged; and (3) where possible, riverwalks should be on land and at least 12 feet wide to accommodate amenities like benches and trees. The document also lists submittal requirements for proposed projects.

Uploaded by

Gayathri
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Customer Information

809 N. Broadway, 2nd Floor / Milwaukee, WI 53202 / 414-286-5726


city.milwaukee.gov/PlanningPermits

Riverwalk Site Plan Review Overlay District (SPROD)


Purpose: Overlay districts provide an 4. Where historic buildings exist along the river,
opportunity to create new development projects preserve those historic elements of the built
which are more compatible with their neighbors, environment.
are designed to be pedestrian friendly in both
design and scale, and will encourage creativity, 5. Riverwalk landscaping should include native
variety and excellence in design and layout. species of trees, plants and shrubs with trees
planted, in order of preference, in the ground, in
The City of Milwaukee has placed a great box-outs with protective guards and grates, or in
emphasis on the full utilization and appreciation planters.
of the Milwaukee River. A continuous system of
riverwalks on both sides of the Milwaukee River 6. Riverwalk landscaping should emphasize
will be a tremendous asset and amenity for all plant species which provide year-round interest.
citizens of Milwaukee. The overlay district is for
the middle and upper portions of the Milwaukee 7. Riverwalks should be on the land side of the
River extending from the Harbor northward to river where feasible. To provide space for
East Pleasant Street. The City Plan Commission amenities such as benches, planters, light poles,
must approve all projects located within 50 feet trash containers, trees and railings, riverwalks
landward of the existing dock wall. should typically be 12 feet wide at a 0 to 5
percent slope with a minimum 8 ft. unobstructed
Following are the guidelines that have been corridor and be open to the general public 24
approved by the City of Milwaukee Common hours a day at no charge.
Council:
8. If land side riverwalks are not feasible,
1. Buildings areas facing the Milwaukee River walkways that float on or extend over the water
should contain architectural features such as may be considered if they do not obstruct
doors and windows which improve their navigation, and do not have permanent roofs, and
appearance and provide a pleasant pedestrian match the high quality of permanent riverwalks.
environment.
9. Special amenity/activity areas are encouraged
2. Site features which detract from the use and but shall be limited to a maximum of 3,200
redevelopment of the rivers edge will be square feet, must be open to the public; shall not
discouraged. Features such as blank walls; chain block pedestrian movements on the riverwalk
link fencing, barb razor or concertina wire; and shall not encroach into navigable waters.
utility doors and staircases; service drives;
loading docks; parking areas; outdoor storage; 10. Riverwalks must be passable year round and
electrical or mechanical equipment; trash be handicapped accessible.
containers or other building maintenance
facilities or equipment; ventilator exhausts; and 11. Walkways, seating areas and other high
concrete road barriers and guard rails, if required traffic areas should complement adjacent
by necessity shall be screened from river areas. buildings and neighborhoods, be aesthetically
pleasing and pedestrian-friendly and should be
3. Where a soft river edge still exists along the paved with brick, tile, stone, decorative concrete
middle river, preserve natural river banks and or other attractive hard material; avoiding large
historic elements of the built environment. expanses of slab concrete or asphalt.

12. Lighting units shall be the Milwaukee Harp


fixtures providing illumination in accordance

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with standards recommended by the Illuminating
Engineering Society of North America (IES) and
Submittal checklist
approved by the Commissioner of Public Works. The following items must be submitted to the
City Plan Commission as part of an application
13. All segments of the riverwalk shall be for approval of a project within the established
designed to connect to other portions of the Site Plan Review Overlay District for the
riverwalk system or to connect to adjacent Riverwalk:
portions of the riverwalk system if they already
exist. 1. Current condition site survey.
2. Site Plan/s with the following information:
14. Structures built within 50 feet of bridges a. Dashed line indicating the location of
must not obstruct bridge maintenance. the riverwalk overlay. This area is 50
feet landward of the existing dock wall.
15. Floating riverwalks will be permitted under b. Location and lot coverage of all new
bridges if there is a minimum 7 ft. clearance and structures and structures to be altered.
if the connection will not obstruct navigation or c. Location, type and size of all proposed
bridge operations. landscaping.
d. Location, design and amount of any
16. Finger piers will only be permitted where proposed off-street parking
they will not obstruct navigation or extend more e. Location and size of all proposed curb
than 40 ft. from the dockline. cuts.
f. Location and design of all proposed
17. Temporary moorings (less than 4 hours) for loading or unloading facilities.
water taxis and tour boats will be permitted g. Location and size of any proposed
riverward of any amenity/activity area subject to exterior signs.
navigation restrictions. h. Proposed topography at 2-foot intervals
if different than the existing
18. Parking adjacent to the river is strongly topography.
discouraged. Parking areas, service drives, i. Location of all proposed refuse stations
loading docks and outdoor storage areas shall and receptacles and types of screening.
provide an appropriate buffer and/or adequate j. Proposed drainage provisions, retaining
landscaped setbacks form the river/riverwalk. walls, planting, anti-erosion devices or
Parking areas shall devote at least 3.33 percent of other protective devices to be
their area to interior landscaping. constructed in connection with the
project.
3. Riverwalk site plan. This plan should be at a
larger scale to clearly depict materials and
control joints/scores in surface material,
location of lighting, railing and other
riverwalk amenities.
4. Elevations of each side of the exterior of any
existing or proposed building and/or
structure located within the overlay district
indicating materials.
5. Pictures of the site and surrounding context.
This can be submitted as photographs,
printed scanned images or in a digital format
but cannot exceed 8.5 x 11.
6. Narrative describing the scope of the project
and specific elements of the Riverwalk
design, including but not limited to width of
the Riverwalk, access points, lighting and
pedestrian amenity details.

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