Waukesha board signs multiple developer agreements and stormwater pacts; rejects lone West Sunset bridge bid

The Waukesha Board of Public Works on May 22 approved a series of developer agreements and private stormwater maintenance contracts tied to new residential and commercial projects across the city, rejected the only bid for a local bridge repair as over budget and held another construction bid for further review.

Board members approved developer agreements with Veridian (transcript: "Verdian") Homes for the Winterberry subdivision, Rolling Meadows LLC for a 16‑unit duplex project south of Tanglewood Drive, and accepted stormwater maintenance agreements with private developers including BLD KDB LLC (KDB label) and Balinski Homes (Old Farm subdivision). The board also voted to reject the lone bid for the West Sunset Drive bridge rehabilitation, and postponed action on the Les Paul Performance Center bid so staff and Parks/Forestry can recheck finances.

The approvals are meant to lock in private maintenance responsibilities and financial guarantees tied to stormwater facilities and other infrastructure installed with those developments. Brandon (staff member), who presented the agreements to the board, said the maintenance pacts “give us … the developers make sure they're maintaining the stormwater facilities that they're installing as part of their project and we ensure the future maintenance ongoing.” The board recorded unanimous or near‑unanimous voice votes to approve the agreements.

KDB label and Winterberry Board members approved a stormwater maintenance agreement with BLD KDB LLC for a development located between Center Road and Corporate Drive north of Corporate Court. Joe Piper asked staff to “extend our most sincere thanks to the management at kdb” after the approval, noting the company is expanding and staying in Waukesha. The motion to approve was made and seconded on the record and carried by voice vote.

On the Winterberry subdivision (property north of Summit Avenue, near Meadowbrook Road), the board approved both the main developer agreement and a matching stormwater maintenance agreement. Ben Lang of Verdian Homes (introduced to the board as "Ben Lang with Verdian Homes") told the board “there will be a homeowners association,” and Brandon clarified that Veridian (the developer) is responsible for phase‑one obligations and warranties under the agreement; the homeowners association’s covenants and restrictions (CCRs) and operating documentation will be recorded after final platting. The board voted to approve the documents.

Rolling Meadows — lift station and HOA responsibilities The board approved a developer agreement and a separate stormwater maintenance agreement for Rolling Meadows LLC, a private duplex project south of Tanglewood Drive and west of Stillwater Circle. Brandon told the board the project will require a private lift station and a private force main because of the elevation difference between the future homes and the city sanitary system; the private force main will discharge into a public sanitary manhole on Tanglewood Drive. Brandon noted the developer’s obligations and warranties will be on the developer, and that “all future maintenance of the lift station” will be the homeowners’ responsibility under the recorded documents. Board members also confirmed the PUD requires a fully operational backup generator at the lift station. The board approved the agreements by voice vote.

Old Farm subdivision and other maintenance pacts The board approved a stormwater maintenance agreement with Balinski Homes for the Old Farm subdivision (single‑family lots north of Madison Street). Brandon said work on that subdivision is starting or imminent; the maintenance agreement formalizes long‑term upkeep of the private stormwater facilities so the city may take technical credit for the practices where applicable.

West Sunset Drive bridge bid rejected Public works staff reported only one bid was received May 16 for the West Sunset Drive bridge ceiling and rehabilitation project: $350,882.71. That figure exceeded the project budget, and staff recommended rejecting the sole bid because prices appeared “quite elevated.” The board voted to reject the lone bid (motion carried by voice vote). Staff indicated they will reassess the project and options for rebidding or redesign.

Les Paul Performance Center bid held Bids for the Les Paul Performance Center improvements were received May 16, but Parks/Forestry staff asked the board to hold action until the next meeting while they review the bid finances. The board unanimously voted to defer the item to the next Board of Public Works meeting for additional staff review.

Payments and CIP update The board approved five payments as listed on the May 22 agenda. Brandon said the city’s capital improvement program remains active across multiple projects and invited any board members with comments to contact staff or project managers during the week. He also listed a number of projects for which official bid notices are out: a pump station project, Fox Lake Village deer‑trail work, the Sunset & Prairie traffic signal improvements (a WisDOT‑funded project), pavement maintenance, fuel/oil tank collection upgrades and generator/transfer‑switch work at fire stations 2 and 3.

Funding note on Sunset & Prairie: Brandon said the Sunset and Prairie signal work is approximately 90% federally funded through WisDOT; the local cost is shared 50/50 with the Town of Waukesha, which reduces the city’s local share to roughly 5% of the overall project cost.

Why it matters These approvals establish formal, recorded responsibilities — including financial guarantees, warranties and maintenance obligations — between the city and private developers. Those agreements limit the city’s long‑term liability for private stormwater infrastructure and document how privately owned infrastructure interfaces with public systems, an important detail for neighborhoods built on sloped sites or for projects that require private lift stations.

What’s next Staff will return with any rebids, cost‑verification work and project updates at future Board of Public Works meetings. The Les Paul improvement item will be brought back after Parks/Forestry finalizes its review.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (May 8, 2025): motion carried by voice vote. - 7e: Stormwater management maintenance agreement, BLD KDB LLC (Center Road/Corporate Drive development): approved (voice vote). - 7A: Developer agreement, VH/Veridian Winterberry Reserve LLC (phase 1): approved (voice vote). - 7B: Stormwater maintenance agreement, Winterberry subdivision: approved (voice vote). - 7C: Developer agreement, Rolling Meadows LLC (16‑unit duplex project): approved (voice vote). - 7D: Stormwater maintenance agreement, Rolling Meadows: approved (voice vote). - 7F: Stormwater maintenance agreement, Balinski Homes (Old Farm subdivision): approved (voice vote). - 5A: Approval of payments (five payments listed): approved (voice vote). - 6A: West Sunset Drive bridge rehabilitation — only bid $350,882.71; board rejected the sole bid (voice vote). - 6B: Les Paul Performance Center improvements — action held to next meeting for staff review (motion carried).

Ending The board adjourned after completing the listed votes and asking staff to return with follow‑up on rebids and the Les Paul item at a future meeting.