Planning commission recommends Common Council approval of Moreland Road 'Conservancy' PUD

The New Berlin Planning Commission on June 2 recommended that the Common Council approve a comprehensive‑plan amendment and rezoning to allow a mixed‑use residential Planned Unit Development (PUD) at 1640 South Moreland Road, the Commission’s public records show.

The action would rescind the Mandel Neighborhood Development PUD (Ordinance 2679) and adopt a new PUD (Ordinance 2701) that rezones three parcels to an RM‑1 PUD for multi‑family development with some integrated commercial uses. The commission also recommended approval of a three‑lot certified survey map for the property.

Planning staff told the commission the submittal reflects a change in the Meadow buildings from smaller units to two larger buildings identified as the North and South Meadow buildings. Staff said the overall project includes multi‑family buildings and some commercial space and that the applicant met the city’s parking code. A staff presentation noted that the submitted traffic impact analysis (TIA) has been reviewed and accepted by Waukesha County, and that the county plans to coordinate road work and a new signal at Robin and Brook as part of the Moreland Road reconstruction.

Residents at the public hearing raised traffic, tree preservation and access concerns. Joel Russ, a West Shadow Drive resident, asked, “What has a traffic impact analysis been done to the area? … What will the increase in traffic be?” Planning staff responded, “A complete TIA has been done,” and said the county has reviewed and approved the study and that the applicant is coordinating with the county on signal and roadway improvements.

Helen Bratz, 1800 South Cardinal Lane, asked whether her neighborhood would lose the ability to make left turns onto Moreland Road: “I understand that the road is going to be changed, but I also heard or was told that we would no longer have access to be able to turn left on Moreland Road when we come out of our little subdivision.” Staff said restrictions on left turns are part of Waukesha County’s Moreland Road reconstruction plans and not a project requirement imposed by the developer.

Questions were also raised about tree removal. Jim Breckenfelder asked whether woodland would be removed; staff said tree disturbance would be minimal and that the developer would pay a tree‑replacement fee for disturbed trees and that the current plan seeks to preserve as many trees as possible.

At the end of the discussion the Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Common Council approve: the comprehensive‑plan amendment (CP250070), the rezoning and PUD ordinance (RZ250071 adopting PUD ordinance 2701 and rescinding PUD ordinance 2679), and the three‑lot certified survey map (LD250072). The motions carried unanimously.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation is advisory; final action will be taken by the Common Council in a future meeting. The staff record notes the applicant described the project as containing roughly 413 apartments overall and two larger Meadow buildings; that figure was given during the public hearing as an overall project total and was described by staff as provided by the applicant.