Developers outline 217‑unit Heyday plan for North Madison and Easy Street; lift station, parks and sidewalks proposed

Heyday Development Group told the Village of Waunakee Plan Commission on Tuesday it is proposing a mixed single‑family and build‑to‑rent project at the northeast corner of North Madison Street and Easy Street that would include roughly 134 rental "Heyday" units and about 83 for‑sale lots on a 56‑acre parcel. Developer Ryan Swengruber said the team has designed the project to match the village's community residential future land‑use designation and the current comprehensive plan.

The plan's nut graf: the concept would extend public water and sanitary sewer to the site, require a developer‑built lift station on the property, provide 5.6 acres of public parkland and a 10‑foot multiuse asphalt path to connect north–south and east–west. Swengruber said the village's downflow study indicates the proposed unit mix can be supported, and that Snyder Associates is the civil engineer on record.

Developers described the product as lower‑density build‑to‑rent single‑family attached homes (two‑car garages and 22‑foot driveways for every unit) and townhomes; the rental community would include ranch/cottage units and two‑story townhomes. Josh Ulrich said the project's rental homes are built to "condo specification" for sound, fire and accessibility, and that typical rents at their recent Wisconsin projects are in the roughly $2,500/month range. Swengruber added, "We are long term holders of the real estate," saying the firm will retain ownership and use accredited third‑party property managers.

Commissioners and staff focused on off‑site utility extensions, roadway improvements, wetlands and connectivity. Commissioners asked where the lift station would be located (developers pointed to a location adjacent to the proposed roadway), how water and sanitary would tie in to existing lines, and whether the wetland areas around the property would be included in the development. Swengruber said some wetland parcels may remain undeveloped because of constraints and that stormwater would be detained on site.

Questions about transportation and pedestrian access prompted developers to say they will consider sidewalks on Easy Street and an urban section along Madison on the side of the development; they also offered to perform a traffic impact analysis if requested. Commissioners asked how the for‑sale lots would be marketed; developers said their intent is to sell the lots to production builders (for example, Tim O'Brien Homes) and they would provide roads and utilities to make lots shovel‑ready.

Developers told the commission they would pursue annexation and pre‑annexation negotiations with the village and indicated a preference to begin site work within approximately a year, dependent on approvals. Lauren Freeman (planning staff) said the next expected step would be a village board briefing or pre‑annexation negotiations so the board can weigh off‑site improvement expectations.

Ending note: commissioners requested more detail on off‑site road improvements (Madison and Easy Street), landscaping and wetland buffers and suggested the developers return to the village board after staff completes technical review. The developers said they will provide additional engineering details, a traffic study if warranted, and cost information for utility and road work during the annexation negotiation stage.