Karl Jewish Community Campus asking for more events, earlier hours

Whitefish Bay - Several operational and structural changes could be coming to the Karl Jewish Community Campus, though village officials will be scrutinizing details in the months ahead before any decisions are made.

Representatives from the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, parent organization of the campus located at 6423 N. Santa Monica Blvd., discussed the eight proposed changes at a Plan Commission meeting Tuesday.

Jerry Benjamin, president of the MJF, said there are several goals behind the proposed changes, including a desire to meet current members' needs, improve child safety and minimize the impact for surrounding residential neighbors.

Benjamin and other MJF officials are proposing the campus open at 5 a.m., rather than 6 a.m., weekdays and at 8 a.m., rather than noon, Saturdays. The campus would continue to open at noon Sundays. MJF officials also are requesting permission to snow plow on the campus, as necessary, between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

In an effort to enhance screening, the organization is proposing construction of a fence along the back field of the property, near a retention pond, and around the front of the campus' southern building.

Operationally, three proposed changes are being requested. MJF would like to increase the permissible number of annual special events on the campus from 12 to 20 with no more than four within a particular month. Also, the organization would like to increase the maximum number of attendees for occasional overnight events - including so-called "lock-ins" for youth - from 40 to 150.

Officials also are requesting permission to hold up to 30 events, including wedding receptions, on the campus after the current 11 p.m. cut-off time. The request comes with the provision all events wrap up by 1 a.m.

At Tuesday's meeting, commissioners agreed to move MJF's proposal through the proper channels outlined in village code. The issue will go before the Village Board and will be hashed over by elected officials. Possible recommendations and modifications will then be brought back to commissioners at a later date.

- Dave Fidlin