Brown Deer OKs light manufacturing use for business park

Brown Deer - Light manufacturing will now be a permitted use in the Brown Deer Business Park, the area generally between North Deerbrook Trail and North Deerwood Drive on the north side of Brown Deer Road.

Community Development Director Nate Piotrowski told the Village Board on Monday that allowing the use would assist the owners of the park, HAS Commercial, is filling larger, vacant warehouse spaces.

Piotrowski said the definition of light manufacturing includes "the assembly, fabrication or other industrial process of finished parts or products, primarily from previously prepared materials, or the indoor provision of industrial services where there are few external effects (such as noise, dust, glare, odors or vibration) across property lines. This term includes but is not limited to, a business engaged in the processing, fabrication, assembly, treatment or packaging of food, textile, leather, wood, paper, chemical, plastic or metal products."

The definition is one used in Milwaukee and West Allis, he said.

Trustee Terry Boschert asked if a 500-ton press would be acceptable.

"It can cause vibrations to the ground," he said.

Piotrowski said under the definition it could not cause effects across property lines.

Piotrowski said there is interest in a building east of Village Hall across the railroad and recreation trail right of way but did not name the company.

The board approved the addition of the use.