Parking is concern for Brookfield Junction

As the city of Brookfield continues its study of ways to boost the economic vitality of the Brookfield Village area, the developer of a proposed apartment complex there says lack of parking is a substantial impediment.

Brookfield Junction, in the 2800 block of Brookfield Road, won Plan Commission support for beginning Phase II of the project - Phase I is retail and Phase II is multifamily housing - Monday, but developer Richard Conley said he's having a hard time meeting the city's parking requirements.

Limited space and high standards could, in Conley's estimation, drive other developers away from the area.

"Right now, if we hold to these standards, I think it will be very difficult to bring in other developers," he said. "We have to be realistic and say, if we want this redevelopment to flourish, what do we have to do?"

Brookfield officials have expressed interest in acquiring land for new municipal lots and Conley suggested he could develop his apartment complex with an underground lot to be potentially bought and used by the city.

Similar arrangements have been made in Wauwatosa in its Village center for recent developments.

Conley has yet to determine the number of housing units to be built, and said decisions about parking will influence the outcome.

The residential portion of the project will sit behind the retail portion when viewed from Brookfield Road.