Hospital zoning OK expected tonight

Oconomowoc council's action will also enable development of mall to move forward

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 31, 2006

By AMY RINARD
arinard@journalsentinel.com

Oconomowoc - In a special meeting tonight, the Common Council is expected to approve a zoning change that clears the way for construction of an Aurora hospital in Summit and a large, upscale shopping mall in the city.

A public hearing beginning at 7 p.m. will precede the council's votes. Action on the proposed zoning ordinance is the only issue on the council's agenda. In an unusual move, the rules will be suspended to allow aldermen to vote on the ordinance twice - on first and second readings - on the same night to expedite final approval.

Approval of the zoning ordinance is part of an agreement signed in August by Oconomowoc, Summit, Pabst Farms and Aurora Health Care that settled a 5-year-old lawsuit filed by Aurora against Oconomowoc when aldermen blocked construction of the hospital by rezoning the proposed site.

Under the settlement, the city agreed to use its expanded zoning powers to rezone land in Summit, at the southeast corner of I-94 and Highway 67 in Pabst Farms, so that Aurora can build a hospital there on a site it now prefers. In turn, Aurora agreed to release its claim on its original building site in the city, at the northeast corner of the intersection in Pabst Farms.

That release makes available 110 acres for construction of a 1 million-square-foot shopping center proposed by General Growth Properties Inc., the second largest developer of shopping malls in the nation.

Mayor Maury Sullivan said Monday that officials from General Growth are scheduled to make a presentation to the city's Plan Commission on Nov. 8 to discuss their overall concept for the mall, which is expected to feature upscale shops, restaurants and possibly a multiscreen cinema. The mall would be a regional draw.

Both Sullivan and Summit Town Chairman Len Susa said Monday that various provisions of the settlement, referred to as a memorandum of understanding, are moving forward at the same time.

"The timing of the council action Tuesday is intended to meet the timetable of the memorandum of understanding, to get it done by the end of October," Sullivan said.

Expediting the rezoning is intended to fit General Growth's timeline to acquire rights to that land and to include the mall in its 2007 budget, Sullivan has said.

The proposed zoning ordinance for the parcel, known as the Summit triangle, bounded by I-94, Highway 67 and Waukesha County Highway DR, designates the 43-acre hospital site for institutional use and the rest of the land for business uses. Pabst Farms developers have said they envision the triangle as a health and wellness campus, with the hospital surrounded by medical offices, clinics and other health-related developments.

Susa said Pabst Farms developers have a town permit to begin grading the triangle to prepare for construction. A developer's agreement is being negotiated regarding the building of roads on the site, he said.

"And Aurora is getting very close to coming in with its plans," Susa said, adding that preliminary discussions with Aurora on its developer's agreement also have begun.

At the same time, Susa and Sullivan said, progress is being made on other provisions of the settlement, including the construction by Pabst Farms developers of a fire station east of Highway 67 and across from the intersection with Oconomowoc Parkway. The station will be shared by city and town fire departments.