Public hearing on JCC proposal planned next month

Whitefish Bay - Village residents will have an opportunity to weigh in on several proposed changes at the Karl Jewish Community Campus at a public hearing next month.

The Village Board on Monday voted to move the plans forward to the public hearing level, with members of that board and the Plan Commission jointly overseeing the event.

JCC officials are requesting eight operational and structural changes at the campus, 6423 N. Santa Monica Blvd. The list includes proposed fencing on the back field of the property, increasing the number of permissible annual special events on the campus from 12 to 20 and requesting up to 30 events, including wedding receptions, be allowed to function until 1 a.m., as opposed to the current 11 p.m. cut off time.

The public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. March 19 at a venue to be announced.

JCC's proposal went before the Plan Commission last month as the first in numerous steps in reviewing the organization's proposals for the site. After a brief 10-minute meeting several weeks ago, commissioners agreed to send it to the Village Board - a step outlined in local ordinances.

A crowd of about 75 people turned up at Monday's board meeting, but Village President Julie Siegel did not take comments from the audience, opting to do it at next month's public hearing.

"We're not debating on the merits of the proposal tonight," Siegel said. "We're simply voting on holding a public hearing."

Because a number of residents appear ready and willing to offer input on the plans, the Village Board will be alongside the Plan Commission at next month's public hearing.

"I do think it's an important enough topic that we as a Village Board would like to hear from the public and do all this at once," Siegel said.

Should the proposal advance beyond the hearing stage, JCC's plans will have to be reviewed by at least one additional body, the Architectural Review Commission, because fencing is involved.

"We are following the cookbook that we have," Village Attorney Chris Jaekels said.