Review of plans for Gateway Sports Academy delayed

PROPOSED PLANS FOR the Gateway Sports Academy on Saukville’s east side, prepared by the architectural firm Rinka+, call for a facility that would include basketball courts and cages, volleyball courts and other recreation opportunities for people from kindergartners through senior citizens and be the second facility for Chapman Basketball Academy in Mequon. (Below) RENDERINGS BY RINKA+ show that the Gateway Sports Academy would include basketball and volleyball courts as well as nine basketball cages that allow hoops players to work on their shots from different parts of the key (top) and a lounge (bottom) where players and fans can relax before and after games and practices.
The Gateway Sports Academy, which is planned to be part of Saukville’s new Northern Gateway Community Collective, hit a snag just before this week’s Plan Commission meeting — when the facility’s site plan was supposed to be reviewed and potentially approved — because of setback issues with the nearby highway.
Ian McCain, design construction manager for Ansay Development, sent a letter to the commission asking that the consideration of the architectural plans, site plan, storm water management plan, water and sanitary sewer plans, lighting, parking and landscaping plans be tabled.
“The design and development team are reworking after a recent observation from the Department of Transportation based on highway setbacks,” he wrote.
Village Administrator Dawn Wagner said the Plan Commission could take action contingent on all the requirements however, she said, it would be “useless” because of all the possible changes.
“They are going to be adjusting the site plan to meet all the new requirements from the DOT, but as soon as we have anything, it will be at the Plan Commission,” Wagner said.
When asked what the DOT actually said, Wagner could only speculate.
“I’m guessing the highway is encroaching into the parking lot,” she said. “Again, I’m just speculating, but I assume some changes need to be made to the parking.”
The development is being built on undeveloped land north of Highway 33 between I-43 and Northwoods Road.
“Right now, the ball is in their team’s court. This is definitely a little setback, but I know they had been working diligently to get the plan submitted, and I know we were too. They will just need to look at pivoting a bit now,” Wagner said.
When and if the development is approved, it will be on track to create a gargantuan sports facility.
The facility is expected to host 16 tournaments for school-based basketball teams and 18 national tournaments that would draw 16,000 athletes and 40,000 fans, as well as six volleyball tournaments per year.
The facility, which would be open 360 days a year — closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, Easter and the Fourth of July — would host everyone from youngsters to senior citizens participating in recreation leagues and individuals with developmental disabilities taking part in Special Olympics.
The facility would be managed by Chapman Basketball Academy, which is located in Mequon. This would be the academy’s second location.
Joe Chapman, the founder of the academy, played four years of basketball at Marquette University and then played professionally overseas for 11 years.
Chapman founded the academy in 2018 and runs 78 Amateur Athletic Union teams.
He also does skills training, team takeovers where he works with players and coaches, three-on-three leagues and tournaments, as well as summer camps.
The facility is expected to take eight months to complete, with the Northern Gateway Community Collective set to open in summer 2024.
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