Massive industrial complex greeted by support

Few details were offered as the Port Washington Plan Commission reviewed a proposal to build a massive industrial complex on the city’s far north side, but officials offered support for the general concept of the development.

The plan to construct three buildings with 567,000 square feet of manufacturing space was spurred by a Port Washington business that wants to expand in the city, Nathan Laurent, co-owner and regional manager of Keller Planners, Architects and Builders, told the commission.

That business is expected to occupy 100,000 square feet of the largest of the three buildings, Laurent said, adding the firm hopes to break ground on the project next year and complete construction in 2023.

The rest of the buildings would be constructed in phases, he said, adding that the specifics of the largest buildings would be dictated by the tenants.

If the project is successful, he added, the developer would consider expanding the business park to the north.

“I think this is a great plan. I think this is a fabulous use of this space,” commission member Kyle Knop said. “I think this is an extremely wonderful opportunity to keep a business in town.”

Mayor Ted Neitzke said he is thrilled by the prospect of retaining a local employer that wants to grow, adding that this part of the plan is a key to the development.

“The likelihood of this happening is very high,” he predicted.

Mike Didier, chairman of the Town of Port Washington, told the commission he has no issues with the proposal.

“It (the property) was long meant to be industrial, commercial,” Didier said, adding the town has no objection to the land being annexed to the city.

“All in all, I’m excited about it.”

Part of that is because the proposal would bring sewer and water service across I-43 to the edge of Knellsville, which the town has long wanted to see developed as a town center.

Josh Lurie, general counsel and vice president of investor relations with F Street Development in Milwaukee, which is proposing the project, declined Monday to identify the local business.

Lurie said his company is also talking to other prospective tenants for the building.

“We’re contemplating a lot of different things,” he said. “A lot of it is unknown at this time. It’s very early on in the planning process. These conversations are very fluid.”

He said the project is being driven “by demand in the marketplace.” 

“We enjoy the site, the access to the freeway,” Lurie said when asked why his firm selected this property. “We’re just excited about the opportunity to develop here.

“We think we’re going to offer a really 

compelling product here. We’d like to continue to go forward with this.”

The timeline for the project is open ended, he added, noting the firm doesn’t have a set date to return to the city for approvals.

The proposed development would be built on land owned by the Weiss family just west of Highland Drive. It would be accessed by a western extension of Highland Lane.

Laurent told the commission that the 45 acres for the project is actually two parcels being sold together.

Commission member Eric Ryer noted that the new buildings would be a large and visible face on the city’s northern entrance and warned that he would be looking to “make that a nice, presentable face.”

Travelers on I-43 would primarily see the ends of the buildings, Laurent said, adding the firm is willing to screen the north and south faces with landscaping.

“These buildings will be much more beautiful than mini-storage buildings,” he said.

Ald. Paul Neumyer, a member of the commission, also expressed concern about the safety of people using the Interurban Bike Trail, which runs along a portion of the development.

That is something that will be taken up as plans progress, officials said.

No matter what is done, commission member Tony Matera said, the city has to make sure its approvals are strongly worded and have teeth to them to ensure any promises made by the developer are kept.

“We want it to meet the expectations laid out before it,” Public Works Director Rob Vanden Noven, a member of the commission, said.