The Rock noise: Owner, Franklin leaders prepare agreement

FRANKLIN, Wis. - Is it time to turn down The Rock? After the owner of the Franklin sports complex had an "emergency meeting" with the mayor Friday, he said he was prepared to make changes.

Owner Michael Zimmerman spoke to FOX6 both before and after the emergency meeting, which Franklin Mayor John Nelson called after a county sound study was completed, and after years of complaints about noise levels.

Zimmerman said The Rock and the city would be drafting a rough draft version of a memo of understanding, likely to be ready on Tuesday. Then, Zimmerman said they will share it with the neighbors nearby the sports complex. Zimmerman said they want to get neighbors feedback and then share the updated draft with the common council at the meeting next month.

"What we have to do is a better job of being more mindful of the next-door neighbors," he said. "Will it be perfect? I don't think that it will be perfect, but we're going to continue to try to tweak it."

Zimmerman said he and the city didn't agree on everything, but about 80% of the details, which includes lowering the sound and turning a loudspeaker in. 

He added they'd also be looking at making changes to the planned development district ordinance, which allows The Rock to go to 79 decibels, higher than the 50 in the adjoining neighborhood. 

The sound study found recently the city’s practice was only to declare a violation if the sound monitor level continuously broke that limit for 30 minutes or more, which does not happen, since bands don't play their music continuously.

The study also found fireworks and concerts, as measured in neighboring areas, went over the sound levels allowed in the neighborhoods, but Zimmerman said The Rock hasn't violated the sound requirements. He added, he's open to talk about sound barrier fencing and decibel levels.

"We want an aggressive timeline with some tangible results," said Nelson.

Neighbors, some living a half-mile away, have complained about loud noises for years.

"It's really a very simple request: Manage the noise level, and then you will have happy neighbors," said Rebekah Kowalski.

"They’ve been heard, and now it’s time for action," Nelson said after the meeting.

Also joining the private meeting was Jason Craig, the alderman who represents the area. 

"There's a lot of frustration from a lot of the residents, because they feel like they've been ignored for almost like a decade now," said Craig.

The meeting comes after the completion of Milwaukee County-commissioned $200,000 sound study. It found some of the center's noises traveled up to two miles. The report made recommendations, including that loudspeakers facing the neighborhood be turned back to the ballpark crowd and the sound volume be lowered.

"Some of the things we talked about, sort of the easy ones – turn down the volume, turn the speakers in," Zimmerman said after the meeting about what will likely be in the draft memo of understanding.

He explained why the speaker was facing the neighborhood. 

"That was designed towards the front gate. And that was particularly important when you're doing COVID stuff."

"There’s a lot of small things we can do right away," Zimmerman said. "This is an economic powerhouse for the city of Franklin, arguably one of the most important things they've ever done. So I would say we take that responsibility serious, right?"

Neighbors who lived here before this sports complex said they're ready for a quieter Rock.

"That'll have a double effect here, you'll have happy neighbors, you'll have neighbors, they're interested in going to the event instead of a lot of the neighbors who are shunning it right now," said Tom Kowalski, who lives a half mile away. "It definitely is a win all around."

"We want to put this to bed as quickly as possible," said Zimmerman.

The alderman said if they don’t see positive changes, the Common Council could consider denying permits for future events.

The Rock houses the Milwaukee Milkmen minor league baseball team, a bar, coffee shop, restaurants, golf driving range and more. Milwaukee County sold the property, which once was a landfill, to Zimmerman's Roc Ventures.