Wedding center eyed for retail complex

The city of Brookfield’s Plan Commission this week took a look at the future of Stonewood Village, a nine-building commercial development on Capitol Drive west of Calhoun Road.

The Plan Commission on Jan. 12 heard a proposal from Losik Engineering and Design Group to add a building at the site, as well as making parking improvements and landscape changes.

Oconomowoc-based developer 4 S purchased the eight-acre Stonewood Village property last year. The group has worked with tenants to establish The Wedding Center at Stonewood Village, a combination of wedding-oriented businesses including limousine services, desserts, bridal gown shops and more.

Seeking complementary tenants

In a letter to the Plan Commission, 4 S president Michael Schutte said the developer will continue to seek out tenants to complement the wedding center idea, such as other retailers, another restaurant and a 10,000-square-foot banquet facility.

The proposal before the commission this week called for the addition of a 4,500-square-foot specialty retail building. The building would be located on the east side of the complex near Beaufort Drive.

Schutte said in the letter he wanted to make Stonewood Village, which he feels had been neglected in recent years, “a project that is an asset for us and the community.”

Plan Commission member Rick Owen said the commission was excited about a new developer revitalizing the center.

“Everyone is extremely pleased to see that the new ownership is stepping in and wanting to invest in Stonewood Village because it’s been a long time (since the last investment),” he said.

More details needed

Owen said the Plan Commission was looking for “a little more detail” on the developer’s plans for the site, including phasing and an overall vision for the site after redevelopment.

He said the commission wanted to make sure the new proposed building would fit in with the rest of the reinvestment at the shopping center.

“We understand phasing but without a little more there, it’s difficult to approve even the one (proposed) building,” Owen said.

Neighborhood Planner Jason Williams said the city wants to see a more comprehensive plan for the future of the site. Williams said the developer should come up with a vision for the site and return to the Plan Commission to get feedback on architecture, traffic impacts and more.

He said the city would also want to see any divisions of the Stonewood Village property into separate lots, something the developer had indicated was possible.

Williams said the developer could come back with a comprehensive plan in a couple of months, and the plan would likely come back to the Plan Commission in March or April.

Alan Hamari can be reached at (262) 446-6601.