The New Berlin Proposal
The New Berlin Proposal
Program name - New Journey residential addiction recovery program
Operator - Milwaukee Rescue Mission (Christian nonprofit founded 1893)
Location - M‑1 industrial district near I‑43 and Moorland Rd., New Berlin, WI (5295 S Moorland Rd, behind Roadrunner carwash, across from The Ridge)
Building size - Approx. 57,000 sq. ft. 4-story facility (Roughly 3% Chapel size)
Capacity - Up to 120 men, phased growth (not full at opening)
Program length - Core six‑month residential program, with optional extended stay
Members of Three Leaf Partners, owners of the property at 5295 S. Moorland Road, initiated discussions with City of New Berlin planning staff. They expressed difficulties with prior development attempts and requested collaboration with the City to identify a potential “solution” for the site.
The Milwaukee Rescue Mission’s “New Journeys” program was introduced by the landowner/developer as the proposed development “solution” for the property.
No.
Per MRM's IRS filings, Milwaukee Rescue Mission is organized as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Its stated primary purpose is to provide emergency aid and services to homeless men, women, and children.
It is not classified as a church in its federal tax filings.
The proposal is for a 57,000-square-foot, 120-bed Community-Based Residential Facility (CBRF) primarily serving adult men in a drug addiction rehabilitation program.
Under:
New Berlin City Ordinance § 275-41 (B)(1) – Use-Specific Regulations; Residential, Elderly and Assisted Living
Wisconsin Statute § 50.01(1g)
A “Community-Based Residential Facility” (CBRF) is defined as:
A place where five or more unrelated adults reside and receive care, treatment, or services above the level of room and board, but no more than three hours of nursing care per week per resident.
CBRFs commonly serve individuals with disabilities and those with substance abuse disorders.
No.
Per New Berlin City Ordinance § 275-41, CBRFs are not permitted in M-1 zoning districts. They are allowed as:
Principal uses in I-1 (Institutional) districts
Conditional uses in certain residential districts
They are prohibited in M-1 (Light Industrial).
Prior to the December 8 Planning Commission meeting, the developer and City staff made a preliminary determination that the project could “arguably” be considered a “church” due to its faith-based component.
Under New Berlin City Ordinance § 275-70, a Community-Scale Church is defined as:
A place of gathering for religious observance, ministry, and fellowship, which may include classrooms for religious instruction and administrative offices. Accessory uses may include banquet facilities, day schools, daycare facilities, retail stores, restaurants, gymnasiums, healthcare facilities, assisted-living facilities, libraries, and cafes.
Community-scale churches are:
Principal uses in industrial districts
Conditional uses in certain other districts
Prohibited in residential districts
The core function of the proposed facility, however, is a 120-bed residential drug rehabilitation CBRF. The chapel is described as an accessory, internal-use component of the larger residential treatment operation.
No.
Milwaukee Rescue Mission has stated that vetting would occur onsite during a multi-week trial period at the New Berlin facility.
According to Milwaukee Rescue Mission’s website, approximately 90% of participants originate from their central Milwaukee campus located at:
1820 W. Wells Street
830 N. 19th Street (adjoining)
Where is the New Journeys program currently operating?
The New Journeys program is currently operating at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission’s central campus at 1820 W. Wells Street and 830 N. 19th Street.
Milwaukee Rescue Mission has publicly stated that there have been eight emergency calls related to the New Journeys program.
However, those figures are internal records and have not been independently verified.
Open records from the Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments show that hundreds of emergency response calls are placed annually to the central campus property as a whole. These figures represent third-party public records data.
A detailed operational plan has not been publicly outlined. Milwaukee Rescue Mission has generally described that transportation away from the facility would involve contacting friends or family members.
No comprehensive contingency plan has been publicly presented regarding individuals who fail the program or depart early.