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Council approves Sand Hill Drive extension; final resolution and contracts authorized
Summary
After a public hearing and resident comments about traffic and neighborhood impacts, the council adopted a final resolution to extend Sand Hill Drive and later awarded the construction contracts, including special-assessment provisions for adjacent parcels.
The Janesville Common Council adopted a final resolution on April 28 to extend Sand Hill Drive from Deerfield Drive to Wright Road and authorized the construction contracts for the project.
Brad Reins, city engineer, presented the design and financing plan for the approximately 2,800-foot extension, including sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, a sidewalk on the south side and a multi-use trail connection on the north side. The project affects nine parcels along the corridor; two undeveloped parcels (referred to in the presentation as Parcel 7 and Parcel 8) are identified as likely benefiting parcels. The city holds roughly 30% of frontage along the corridor.
Reins said payment options for adjacent property owners include pay-in-full at invoice, placement on the first-year tax bill, or spreading principal over five years with interest. A caveat in the city policy applies to subdividers/speculative builders or owners with more than three vacant lots within a quarter mile; two parcels were noted as falling under that provision.
During the public hearing resident Gary Krause of Canvasback Drive raised concerns about the extension creating a bypass that could increase traffic volumes and noise for adjacent neighborhoods, questioned likely future land uses, and warned about long-term traffic-calming costs after development. Reins and other council members responded that additional public hearings and plan-commission review would be required for future rezoning or major developments on the vacant parcels and that several traffic-calming and pedestrian-safety features (25 mph design speed, multi-use trail crossings with bump-outs and advanced signage) are included.
After the public hearing, Councilmember Squire moved to adopt the final resolution; Councilmember Williams seconded. The council voted unanimously to adopt file resolution 2025-2330 (final resolution declaring intent to exercise special assessment powers under Section 66.0703, Wisconsin Statutes, and to provide for assessment under Section 66.0911, Wisconsin Statutes) and to proceed with the project. At a subsequent new-business vote the council also approved awarding contracts for bid schedule C2025: C-2025-13 (Sand Hill Drive extension) and C-2025-17 (Phase 6 leach recirculation system and Phase 7 landfill gas system). The contract award motion was moved by Williams, seconded by Cass, and passed unanimously.
City staff recommended a summer–fall construction schedule with completion required by late October; Reins said the city held a public information meeting and opened bids on April 2. Reins said the city’s capital improvement plan included the extension and that adjacent property-owner assessments aim to recover 100% of administrative, engineering and construction costs in accordance with council policy.
