Lakefront Overlay Zone (LF).

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 295-1015

in effect

295-1015. Lakefront Overlay Zone (LF). 1. PURPOSE. The lakefront overlay zone is established to accommodate a wide variety of public and quasi-public facilities providing recreational and cultural opportunities and supporting services that require lakefront sites. 2. PROCEDURES. a. Creation. Creation of a lakefront overlay zone shall be by amendment to the zoning map, pursuant to s. 295-307. b. Zoning Map Designator. The lakefront overlay zone shall be shown on the zoning map with an “LF” designator. c. Amendment of Zone Boundaries. Amendment of the boundaries of a lakefront overlay zone shall only be initiated by a motion of the common council or by a petition submitted to the common council and signed by owners of 50% or more of the area of all land included in the zone. Following passage of the common council motion or the department’s receipt of a petition, the proposed boundary amendment shall be considered by the plan commission and common council in accordance with the zoning map amendment procedure in s. 295-307-3. 3. STANDARDS. a. Use Table. Table 295-1015-3-a indicates the use classifications for various land uses in the lakefront overlay zone. These use classifications replace the classifications of the underlying zoning district. Any use not listed in the table is a prohibited use in the lakefront overlay zone. The following are the use classifications indicated in Table 295-1015-3-a: a-1. "Y" indicates a permitted use. This use is permitted as a matter of right subject to all performance standards. a-2. “L“ indicates a limited use. This use is permitted only when the use meets the standards of subdiv. a-2. If the use cannot meet these standards, it shall be permitted only upon board approval of a special use permit pursuant to s. 295-311-2, unless otherwise prohibited by par. b. a-3. "S" indicates a special use. This use is permitted only if the board approves a special use permit pursuant to s. 295-311-2. Table 295-1015-3-a LAKEFRONT OVERLAY ZONE USE TABLE Y=Permitted Use L=Limited Use S=Special Use | Zoning District Uses | LF EDUCATIONAL USES Day care center | L COMMUNITY-SERVING USES Library | Y Cultural institution | Y Community center | L COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE USES General Office | S Government office | Y Retail establishment, general | L MOTOR VEHICLE USES Parking lot, principal use | S Parking lot, accessory use | Y Parking structure, principal use | S Parking structure, accessory use | S ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICE USES Bed and breakfast | S Tavern | S Assembly hall | L Restaurant without drive-through facility | L Restaurant with drive-through facility | L ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION USES Park or playground | Y Festival grounds | Y Recreation facility, indoor | S Recreation facility, outdoor | S Theater | S Marina | L TRANSPORTATION USES Passenger terminal | Y Helicopter landing facility | S Ship terminal or docking facility | S UTILITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE USES Transmission tower | L Water treatment plant | Y Small wind energy system | Y Solar farm | S Substation/distribution equipment, indoor | S Substation/distribution equipment, outdoor | L TEMPORARY USES Seasonal market | L Live entertainment special event | L b. Limited Use Standards. b-1. Day Care Center. b-1-a. The use is located in a building containing a library or cultural institution as a principal use. b-1-b. The use shall not operate between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. b-1-c. For any day care center other than an adult day care center, the facility shall not be located within 500 feet of an adult retail establishment. b-1-d. For any day care center other than an adult day care center, if the day care center is located in a building containing a library or cultural institution as a principal use, the facility shall not be located within 300 feet of a premises for which the common council has granted any of the alcohol beverage licenses identified in s. 90-4-1, 2 and 5 and such license is currently valid. This standard shall not apply to a day care center in operation on February 3, 2007. b-2. Community Center or Assembly Hall. The facility shall be owned and operated by a governmental agency or entity. b-3. General Retail Establishment, Restaurant without Drive-through facility or Restaurant with Drive-through Facility. b-3-a. The area devoted to the use shall not exceed 1,000 square feet. b-3-b. The use shall be located in a structure owned by a governmental agency or entity. b-3-c. The use shall be ancillary to park and recreational uses. b-4. Marina. Indoor sales or storage of boats shall not be permitted. b-5. Transmission Tower. b-5-a. The tower shall comply with the applicable provisions of s. 295-413. b-5-b. The tower shall not exceed the height limit of the underlying zoning district. b-6. Substation/distribution Equipment, Outdoor. All structures associated with the use shall be screened with type “G“ landscaping, as described in s. 295-405. b-7. Seasonal Market. b-7-a. The activity shall be located on property owned or leased by the operator of the seasonal market. Alternatively, the market operator may furnish the department with written evidence that the property owner has given the operator permission to use the premises for a seasonal market. A specific certificate of occupancy shall not be required for a seasonal market meeting the requirements of this paragraph. b-7-b. If flowers, plants or Wisconsin-grown farm products constitute at least 75% of the merchandise offered for sale, the activity shall be limited to not more than 180 days in one calendar year. If Christmas trees constitute at least 75% of the merchandise offered for sale, the activity shall be limited to not more than 90 days in one calendar year. Otherwise, the duration of the seasonal market shall be limited to not more than 14 days in one calendar year. b-7-c. The activity shall not produce glare, spill light or noise in violation of the provisions of ch. 80. b-7-d. Signage shall be limited to not more than 2 signs and a total display area of 16 square feet for all signs combined. b-7-e. Sales shall not occur between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. b-7-f. The site shall be restored to its previous condition following termination of the market operation. b-8. Live Entertainment Special Event. b-8-a. If the event is to occur on the public right-of-way or other public property, the person, firm or organization coordinating the event shall obtain a special event permit in accordance with s. 105-55.5. b-8-b. The person, firm or organization coordinating the event shall obtain a public entertainment premises license or a temporary public entertainment premises permit, as required by ch. 108. b-8-c. The event shall be located on property owned or leased by the person, firm or organization that is coordinating it. Alternatively, such person, firm or organization may furnish the department with written evidence that the property owner has given the operator permission to use the premises for a live entertainment special event. c. Design Standards. c-1. Purpose. The objective of the design standards of this paragraph is to reduce or eliminate potential adverse effects and nuisances sometimes associated with the various uses found in this district, particularly as these uses impact surrounding residents and businesses. The standards set forth in this paragraph include the provision of setbacks and the use of screening/buffering techniques to limit the visibility of certain activities. c-2. Principal Building Standards. All principal buildings shall have setbacks of at least 25 feet from all property lines, except along the front lot line, where the required setback shall be the average setback as determined in accordance with the provisions of s. 295-505-2-b-4. c-3. Accessory Building Standards. Accessory buildings shall have setbacks of at least 25 feet from all property lines. However, a ground-mounted solar array that is 20 feet or less in height shall comply with the front setback requirement and be set back a minimum of 1.5 feet from all side, side street and rear lot lines c-4. Site Standards. c-4-a. Parking. Off-street parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of s. 295-403-2 and shall meet the design standards of s. 295-403-3. c-4-b. Dumpsters and Waste Storage. A dumpster or common waste storage facility visible from a public street or any real property that is not zoned industrial-light or industrial-heavy shall be screened with type “G” landscaping, as described in s. 295-405. c-4-c. Loading Docks. Where loading for more than 2 truck bays is in a yard facing and visible from a public street or any real property that is not zoned industrial-light or industrial-heavy, the loading area shall be screened with type “G“ landscaping, as described in s. 295-405. These standards may be waived in whole or in part, or compliance with them may be delayed in whole or in part, if visibility of the loading docks is limited by changes of grade, natural features, elevated roadways, existing buildings or similar obstructions. c-4-d. Fences. Fences shall comply with the fence regulations for residential zoning districts, as specified in s. 295-505-4-f. c-4-e. Signs, Generally. Table 295-1015-3-c-4-e contains the regulations for on-premise and off-premise signs in the lakefront overlay zone. General regulations applicable to all signs can be found in s. 295-407. c-4-f. Temporary Signs. A sign pertaining to the construction of a building or the sale or lease of vacant land shall be permitted in the lakefront overlay zone provided it does not exceed 36 square feet. A sign erected and maintained on a lot to advertise the leasing, rental or sale of a building or other improved real estate shall be permitted in the lakefront overlay zone provided it does not exceed 6 square feet. c-4-g. Standards for Multiple Freestanding Signs. Where more than one freestanding sign is permitted on a site, no 2 freestanding signs may have display areas that are oriented to the same street. In addition, the signs shall be located as far apart as possibly practicable or be separated by a building. c-4-h. Combination type A and B Signs. Signs that contain elements of both type A and type B signs shall be permitted as long as the size of each element does not exceed its prorated share of total display area, in accordance with s. 295-205-5-d. c-5. Metal Building Walls. The use of corrugated metal, a metal panel-and-batten system or any other pre-engineered metal building technology on any front façade or street façade located within 100 feet of a street shall be prohibited for any new building construction, addition, or substantial improvement as of November 20, 2004. This provision shall not preclude the use of metal panels or siding in detailing soffits, fascia, dormers, coping, cupolas and similar architectural features, provided the metal materials cover not more than 15% of the total façade, nor shall it preclude the use of metal building walls on additions to existing buildings constructed of similar materials. Table 295-1015-3-c-4-e SIGN REGULATIONS FOR THE LAKEFRONT OVERLAY ZONE LF Freestanding Signs (only monument signs permitted) Maximum number | no limit Type “A” max. display area (sq. ft.) | 40; special use permit required for larger than 40 sq. ft. Type “B” max. display area (sq. ft.) | special use permit required for sign up to 32 sq. ft.; prohibited if larger than 32 sq. ft. Maximum height | 14 ft. Wall Signs (permitted) Maximum number | no limit Type “A” max. display area (sq. ft.) | no limit Type “B” max. display area (sq. ft.) | 50 Projecting Signs (permitted) Maximum number | no limit Type “A” max. display area (sq. ft.) | no limit Type “B” max. display area (sq. ft.) | 24 Awning Signs (type “A” permitted only) Maximum number | no limit Type “A” max. display area (sq. ft.) | no limit Hood Signs (permitted) Maximum number | no limit Type “A” max. display area (sq. ft.) | no limit Type “B” max. display area (sq. ft.) | 24 Canopy Signs (permitted) Maximum number | no limit Type “A” max. display area (sq. ft.) | no limit Type “B” max. display area (sq. ft.) | 24 Roof Signs (permitted) Type “A” max. display area (sq. ft.) | no limit Type “B” max. display area (sq. ft.) | 50 Off-premise Signs (not permitted)

Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-2/CH295-sub10.pdf#page=6Fetched: 10/26/2026