PUBLIC HEARING UPDATE

On March 2, 2026 the Village of Belgium Board of Trustees held a public hearing regarding an application submitted by Matt Manzek to rezone parcel # 180150700700 from M-2 General Manufacturing District to RM-3 Large Multi-Family Residential District. A video of the Public Hearing can be viewed at https://youtu.be/qCqxCImU_to

If approved, this zoning would allow the owner to build multiple family dwellings of no less than 14 units and no more than 24 units per structure.  The total number of units allowed on this parcel could not exceed 122.  The total green space requirement for the parcel would be 35%.  Additional requirements of this zoning district include providing park and recreation space for residents. 

The planned land use of this parcel in the Village of Belgium Comprehensive Plan is medium density urban residential which is consistent with residential land use throughout the Village, including the adjacent Ardennes subdivision.

In summary, the concerns presented during the public hearing were:

• Proposed scope of project, including building height, number of units, parking

• Increased traffic on Middle Road

• Crime

• Light & noise pollution to nearby residential neighborhood

• Infrastructure capacity such as Water, Sewer, Emergency Services, Police

• Stormwater management

Ozaukee County Sheriff, Christy Knowles, was in attendance and stated that although adding housing unit would be likely to add traffic and incident calls, there is no way for the Sheriff’s Department to predict the impact of development of this nature in advance.  She stated that most people are law abiding and indicated confidence in the Sheriff’s Departments ability to meet the needs of the Village.

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Belgium Fire Chief, Pat Wester, provided data to illustrate the impact the development could have on Fire/EMS services.  He stated the Ardennes currently has 78 single family homes, 31 two-family homes, and 2 four family homes for a total of 111 buildings (this equates to a total of 148 housing units).  This would be comparable to adding 120 units in an apartment complex.  In 2025 the fire department responded to 12 calls in the Ardennes which equaled 4% of the total Fire Department calls for the year.  Nine of the calls were for EMS services, two calls were for fire alarms (smoke detectors), and one was a vehicle fire.  He stated that 49% of the calls in the Ardennes were for people aged 60 years or older.   He also added that nationally around 49% of all EMS calls are for people aged 60 years or older. 

Department of Public Works Director, Dan Birenbaum stated that the Village water capacity is sufficient to meet the needs even with the addition of a development of size.  He also stated that our Wastewater Treatment Plant is currently operating at under 50% of our capacity.  He also stated that stormwater management is under the authority of the DNR and any development of the property (manufacturing or residential) would require some form of stormwater management.

Property Owner Matt Manzeck told attendees that he has lived in the Town of Belgium all his life.  He owns a local construction company.  He purchased the land because he felt this parcel would lend itself to multifamily development.  The complex would be built, owned, and managed by his son, daughter, and himself.  He is hoping to do underground parking if it is possible.  He thinks there could be an opportunity for the installation of a bike path from the development to the dog park and Interurban Trail.  The plan is to build quality buildings that will hold up long term.  There is no intention of removing the existing berm and may plant more trees.

Mr. Manzeck has provided some additional information in response to the questions and concerns addressed at the public hearing:

• this development has absolutely nothing to do with the data center being built to the south. Again, reiterating that the company is literally myself and my two kids.

• the lighting can certainly be easily addressed, and we can do things like put the lights on timers so they turn off at a certain time and are not on all night. We can also do things like lower height lighting.

• in regard to parking, we are currently having engineering and estimates done for the underground parking, to reduce surface parking.

• quiet hours can be enforced in the development. We plan to have live-in onsite management so any issues can be dealt with promptly.

• nothing about this development has anything to do with low-income housing.

• we are currently working with the architect to develop the plans and the details so we can show what it will be like and be able to share information with residents and neighbors.

• there is land to the east of the water tower (that could allow) for a secondary road out to Silver Beach Rd. to help address concerns regarding traffic flow.

• there wouldn't be so much a bike path as previously mentioned,  but more of a pedestrian walk to the dog park and nature walk surrounding the buildings.

• my plan from the beginning with this property has been to take an area of the village that has been neglected and to improve it and make Belgium a desirable place to live. I have a bachelor's degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from UW- Milwaukee so I have a huge interest in making things look better and to fit with the surrounding area. Again, I am a lifelong resident of Belgium, and am only interested in seeing it continue to grow, and even to prosper.

• lastly, I think it would be good for residents to understand that although I know change is hard, it is inevitable for this property. Either a residential development will go up here per a zoning change, or it will become businesses/industrial and who could guarantee that this would not be more noise, light etc.  My guess is it would be more. I would think that at this point, they would much prefer a well done and maintained residential community built by a son of the community and his family. We won't be keeping the property as it has been, so change will be happening in one way or another. I would greatly appreciate the community's support going forward and am happy to keep lines of communication open.