Village schedules public meeting on former bank/bowling-alley site; staff says police and admin can fit on property

Village staff updated the board on early plans to redevelop the former Waukesha State Bank/bowling-alley site at 550 Hartbrook Drive and said preliminary layouts indicate police and administrative offices can be accommodated on the property. Keller (staff) told trustees the property’s grades and site constraints require design changes, but that the parcel can support a building footprint large enough for police and administration and site features such as a fenced secure parking area.

Keller said the site slopes roughly seven feet across several quadrants, which affects grading and retaining-wall needs; staff are evaluating whether fenced areas behind the building should include police and/or administrative staff parking. "One of the benefits is we can have, you know, everyone's personal vehicles back there, but it's not necessarily… keeping it somewhat" for safety, one staff member said, explaining the security rationale for a gated area.

Trustees raised questions about fencing height and visual impacts, whether the gated area would appear exclusionary, and possible pedestrian connections between the site and adjacent businesses. Staff said stormwater, bio-retention islands in the parking lot and redevelopment stormwater compliance will be included in later design phases. They also noted the cost of acquiring the property will affect the project budget and that a full budget update would be provided as plans advance.

After discussion, the board moved and seconded to schedule a public information meeting on October 28 at 6 p.m. at Village Hall to present more-developed plans, estimated budgets and to collect community input; the motion carried. Staff said they will present a plan to the board before taking it to the public so trustees see the material in advance.