Board recommends sidewalk on Silvernail Road from Sussex Lane east; sends plan to City Council

The Waukesha Board of Public Works on April 3 voted to recommend that the City Council approve a special charge to install sidewalk along Silvernail Road from just west of Sussex Lane east to University Drive.

The recommendation, made by board member Joe Piper and seconded by Kevin Riley, was adopted 2-1. Board member Steve Cassens voted in favor; Riley cast the lone no vote. The board’s action directs staff to prepare the special charge resolution so affected property owners can be notified; final approval must come from the City Council.

The sidewalk installation is part of a Silvernail Road reconstruction project listed in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan and the city sidewalk plan, which rates segments medium or high priority and calls for installation when adjacent construction occurs. City staff told the board doing the sidewalk during the road project offers cost savings because the contractor would not need to re-excavate later.

The board’s decision followed public comment and discussion. Ken Hallett, a resident who said he lives on a steep cul-de-sac that would abut the sidewalk, said he and his wife are handicapped and worried about snow removal requirements. "I'm here about this Silvernail project and the sidewalk that's, going to be, abutment up to our lot. We're on a 20 degree hill ... As the city says, when you have a sidewalk, you have to shovel it within 24 hours. And I am handicapped," Hallett said during the public-comment period.

Marie Wren, who said she lives in the Windings subdivision behind Silvernail, said she supported roadway improvements but asked where the sidewalk would extend. "I applaud you, the city of improving Silvernail ... but for putting along a sidewalk, how far west from university are you thinking of taking that?" Wren asked. Staff indicated a map in the meeting packet showed the proposed limits and that the board would review details during the agenda item.

City staff said the long-term sidewalk plan calls for continuous sidewalk from the West Waukesha Bypass (Highway 318) into the city, but that some sections — described by staff as within a former Town of Pewaukee area governed by a BAA under review — cannot be assessed or installed at this time. A city staff member explained that those legal/contractual nuances must be resolved before installing sidewalk in the westernmost segment.

Board discussion centered on the trade-off between installing sidewalk now while the contractor is working (to save future excavation and costs) and concerns about assessing property owners who currently do not have frontage assessed for other work. Board member Kevin Riley said taking advantage of the road project to add sidewalk could avoid "undue financial hardship in the future for the residents and the taxpayers if we don't take advantage of it now." Piper said he would "support East Of Sussex Lane tonight, but I'm not gonna support West," and moved the narrowed recommendation that staff proceed only with the Sussex Lane–to–University Drive segment.

The board emphasized that its action is a recommendation; council consideration and final approval are still required. Staff advised residents to contact their alderman — currently Pete Bartels, pending a forthcoming change — and said staff would notify affected property owners after council action. Craig Austin was identified in the meeting as the city project manager for the Silvernail reconstruction.

Votes and next steps: The board’s 2-1 vote directs staff to prepare the special charge resolution for the Sussex Lane–to–University Drive portion of Silvernail Road; council action is required to finalize the assessment and order the work.