The industrial districts are established to provide locations for land uses engaged in the production, processing, assembly, manufacturing, packaging, wholesaling, warehousing, or distribution of goods and materials. Regulations for the industrial districts are established to promote industrial development and to maintain and improve compatibility with surrounding areas. In addition to industrial uses, limited commercial uses, parking facilities, public services, and utilities are allowed. The industrial and employment districts are as follows:

(1)

LI Light Industrial. This district is intended to allow industrial operations and activities in combination with limited commercial uses in older industrial corridors that were developed with a mix of uses in medium-sized buildings with limited outdoor storage. The district is designed to include warehousing, wholesaling, shipping, and related activities, limited manufacturing, and a range of commercial uses.

(2)

GI General Industrial. This district accommodates high-intensity industry and often includes very large structures, extensive exterior storage and exterior mechanical or equipment operations. It accommodates uses that require large or isolated sites or rail or port service. Most sites within the GI District have already been developed. Where possible, the GI District should be separated from residential neighborhoods. Standards for screening and buffering of these operations should be enhanced where feasible.

(3)

BP Business Park. This district provides sites for modern industry, research and development, and associated office and commercial uses in a park-like environment characterized by high standards of building and site design. It is based on the existing I-43 Business Park Standards, with applicability to similar environments elsewhere in City.

(Code 1984, § 13.901)

(a)

In general. Table 44-11 lists all permitted and conditional uses allowed in the industrial districts.

(b)

Permitted uses. Uses specified with a "P" are permitted in the district or districts where designated, provided that the use complies with all other applicable provisions of this chapter. Persons wishing to establish or modify a permitted use, excluding single-family residential uses, shall obtain a zoning certificate for such use, as specified in Article II of this chapter, Administration. Condominiums are permitted in all industrial districts per Wis. Stats. Ch. 703.

(c)

Conditional uses. Uses specified with a "C" are allowed as a conditional use in the district or districts where designated, provided that the use complies with all other applicable provisions of this chapter. Persons wishing to establish or expand a conditional use shall obtain a conditional use permit for such use, as specified in Article II of this chapter, Administration.

(d)

Prohibited uses. Any use not listed as either "P" (permitted) or "C" (conditional) in a particular district or any use not determined by the Zoning Administrator to be substantially similar to a use listed as permitted or conditional shall be prohibited in that district. Such determination shall be made in the manner provided for in Article II of this chapter, Administration, governing determination of substantially similar uses.

(e)

Specific development standards. Permitted and conditional uses specified with an "x" under the development standards column shall be subject to the standards identified in Article XVI of this chapter, Land Use Development Standards.

Table 44-11. Principal Uses in the Industrial Districts

Note: P = Permitted Use; C = Conditional Use.

* Any establishment at which primarily alcohol beverages are served must also meet the requirements of Chapter 10, Businesses.

** See land use definitions section for complete list of uses.

(Code 1984, § 13.902; Ord. No. 8-09; Ord. No. 13-15; Ord. No. 10-18, § 7, 6-19-2018; Ord. No. 29-21, § 1, 12-21-2021; Ord. No. 09-23, § 4, 5-16-2023; Ord. No. 16-25, § 3, 7-15-2025)

(a)

Retail sales, service, and repair. Retail sales, service, and repair shall be prohibited in all industrial districts except those specifically listed in Table 44-11 or where such activity is accessory to the permitted principal use. Accessory retail uses shall be limited to a maximum of 20 percent of the overall gross floor area occupied by the primary business, up to a maximum of 2,000 square feet.

(b)

Outdoor speakers. Outdoor speakers shall not be audible from a residential district boundary.

(Code 1984, § 13.903)

(a)

Outdoor storage and display is permitted in the Business Park (BP) District, subject to the following standards:

(1)

Outdoor storage areas shall not exceed 25 percent of the lot area and shall be contiguous.

(2)

A fence 90 percent impervious to sight is required to enclose all outdoor storage areas from view. The fence shall not exceed eight feet in overall height and shall consist of wood, vinyl or masonry material.

(3)

No material/product may be stored higher than the required fencing.

(4)

A five-foot-wide landscaped area shall be provided along all fenced areas with ground cover, shrubs or trees planted at an average spacing of 30 feet on center.

(5)

All outdoor storage areas shall be surfaced compliant with Section 44-1694.

(6)

No outdoor storage shall encroach within a required setback.

(b)

In the Light Industrial and General Industrial Districts, outdoor storage shall be completely screened from any adjacent street, sidewalk, public walkway, public park, or residential property, in compliance with Section 44-1964w. Outdoor sales and display areas shall be separated from any adjacent street, sidewalk, or public walkway by a low landscaped screen, in compliance with Section 44-1918.

(Code 1984, § 13.904; Ord. No. 16-14; Ord. No. 5-15)

Development of land within the industrial districts shall follow the following standards, as well as those specified in Article XVI of this chapter, Land Use Development Standards, and Article XIX of this chapter, Site Plan Review:

(1)

Building materials. All building facades shall be designed with architecturally-finished materials. Durable materials, such as masonry or stucco, shall be used on all street-facing facades.

(2)

All subsequent additions and outbuildings constructed after the erection of an original building or buildings shall be constructed of comparable materials and designed in a manner consistent with the original design, unless the entire building is being renovated.

(3)

Service areas shall be screened with an approved combination of berms, landscaping, and walls or fences architecturally complementary to the principal building.

(4)

Loading docks shall be located and screened so as to minimize the visibility from any street.

(Code 1984, § 13.905)

Parking and loading requirements for uses in the industrial districts shall be as set forth in Article XVIII of this chapter, Off-Street Parking, Drives and Loading.

(Code 1984, § 13.906)

Sign requirements for uses in the industrial districts shall be as specified in Chapter 30, Signs.

(Code 1984, § 13.907)

Lot area and setback requirements shall be as specified in Table 44-12.

Table 44-12. Dimensional and Area Requirements, Industrial Districts

Notes to Table 44-12:

^a

Smokestacks, water towers, and similar structures may exceed the maximum height limit as specified by conditional use.

^b

Corner properties: The side facade of a corner building adjoining a public street shall maintain the front setback of the adjacent property fronting upon the same public street. If no structure exists on the adjacent property, the setback shall be a minimum of one-half the required front yard setback of the subject property's zoning district.

^c

Side and rear yards shall be required when a nonresidential use adjoins a side yard of a residential district or as determined necessary by the Zoning Administrator to provide access for deliveries, loading, etc.

^d

A minimum 75 feet of public street frontage is required.

(Code 1984, § 13.908)

Accessory uses and structures in the industrial districts shall comply with the following standards and all other applicable regulations of this chapter:

(1)

No accessory use or structure shall be constructed or established on any lot prior to the time of construction of the principal use to which it is accessory.

(2)

The accessory use or structure shall be incidental to and customarily associated with the principal use or structure served.

(3)

The accessory use or structure shall be subordinate in area, extent, and purpose to the principal use or structure served.

(4)

The accessory use or structure shall contribute to the comfort, convenience, or necessity of the occupants of the principal use or structure served.

(5)

The accessory use or structure shall be located on the same zoning lot as the principal use or structure.

(Code 1984, § 13.909)

(a)

Attached structures. An accessory structure shall be considered attached and an integral part of the principal structure when it is connected by an enclosed passageway. Such structures shall be subject to the following requirements:

(1)

The structure shall meet the required yard setbacks for a principal structure, as established for the zoning district in which it is located.

(2)

In no case shall the total floor area of an attached garage, carport, or other accessory structure exceed the ground floor area of the principal building located on the same lot.

(3)

The structure shall not exceed the height of the principal building to which it is attached.

(b)

Detached structures. Detached accessory structures shall be permitted in industrial districts in accordance with the requirements shown in Table 44-13 and as follows:

(1)

Detached accessory structures shall be located to the side or rear of the principal building and are not permitted within the required front yard or within a side yard abutting a street, except that a surface parking lot or parking structure may be located within a side yard.

(2)

The structure shall meet the required rear and side yard setbacks for a principal structure, as established for the zoning district in which it is located.

(3)

The total floor area of a detached accessory building shall not exceed the ground floor area of the principal building located on the same lot, except by conditional use.

(4)

No detached accessory building shall be located closer than three feet from the principal building. Distance between structures shall be measured from wall to wall.

(Code 1984, § 13.910)

Permitted accessory uses are as shown in Table 44-13.

Table 44-13. Permitted Accessory Uses in the Industrial Districts

(Code 1984, § 13.911; Ord. No. 1-11; Ord. No. 9-12)