NEW BERLIN — Rockwell Automation will once again take the stage in front of the New Berlin Plan Commission tonight, this time for review of the use, site, and architectural approval application for the Milwaukee-based company’s proposed massive manufacturing facility.
The New Berlin website says the Plan Commission is scheduled to review the application tonight, but does not indicate whether any action might be taken.
It will be the first time the city has discussed Rockwell’s New Berlin project since the Common Council unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s land use map, a planned unit development (PUD) that includes manufacturing zoning, and a series of certified survey maps for the project on July 28.
Rockwell’s proposed 810,000square-foot manufacturing facility along the south side of the 14000 block of West Grange Avenue has faced strong opposition from residents, specifically those who live in neighborhoods that border the proposed Rockwell site. Concerned residents have shown up in numbers to previous city meetings and public hearings regarding the Rockwell project; most recently, residents spoke out against the facility for 45 minutes prior to the Common Council meeting on July 28.
Regardless, Rockwell has received strong support from city officials thus far. The Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval of Rockwell’s rezoning/PUD, comprehensive plan amendment, and land division requests on July 15. The Common Council unanimously gave that approval two weeks later.
Kyle Lindberg, Rockwell’s vice president of supply chain strategy and planning, said previously the manufacturing facility will primarily be used for the assembly of electronic products. Capital investment is expected to be between $211 million and $246 million with “hundreds” of new jobs created, according to Lindberg.
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Concerns from residents who live near the proposed site have included noise and light pollution, power consumption, increased truck traffic in the area, and environmental concerns.
DNR permit still pending approval
Among those environmental concerns are that the proposed Rockwell facility would be built on wetlands. As such, Rockwell submitted an application for an individual wetland disturbance permit to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on July 9, according to DNR records.
On Aug. 6, Francesca Sanchez, a water management specialist with the DNR who is handling Rockwell’s application, emailed Marvin Witham, leader of global real estate with Rockwell Automation, to notify Rockwell that the company’s application was incomplete. Among other requests for modification to Rockwell’s application, the DNR asked Rockwell to more clearly depict where it will implement its erosion control measures, such as sediment basins. Rockwell’s application also states that it will use a culvert pipe with wingwalls to reduce wetland impacts as much as possible; the DNR asked Rockwell to explain how a culvert pipe with wingwalls will reduce impacts as versus another culvert type or design, according to DNR records.
“This is also an opportunity for you to explain how your project will avoid or minimize impacts to wetlands and public waters,” Sanchez said in the email.