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Germantown commission amends 2024 trail plan to add sidewalks and improve Division Road connectivity
Summary
The Germantown Parks & Recreation Commission voted to amend the 2024 trail plan to add sidewalk extensions, reserve a north-of-Virginia connection to Mequon Road, and require 8-foot asphalt sidewalks where the right-of-way allows. The amendment passed by voice vote after staff presentation and commissioner discussion.
The Germantown Parks & Recreation Commission voted to amend the village’s 2024 trail plan to add sidewalk extensions and improve pedestrian connectivity along Division Road, a project staff says will align trail planning with a planned road reconstruction.
Village engineer Kevin Driscoll told commissioners staff identified an omission in the trail plan during design work and proposed three steps: acknowledge the omission, extend sidewalk to Lilac Lane with a pedestrian crossing in place of a dead end south of Virginia, and reserve a north-of-Virginia future alignment on the west side of Division Road to connect to Mequon Road.
Why it matters: the change is intended to make Phase 1 of the Division Road reconstruction (design for construction in 2026) consistent with the trail plan so sidewalk and path work is coordinated with road work and developers and staff have clear guidance. Driscoll said the amendment would replace typical 5-foot asphalt sidewalks with 8-foot asphalt sidewalks on right-of-way segments where feasible.
Commissioners asked about several design details, including an identified sidewalk gap near Kessler’s Diamonds and constraints where existing highway easements (typically 33 feet) limit how far sidewalks can move from the road. Driscoll said staff is updating plat maps and may seek temporary land easements where property lines limit alignment. He also noted coordination with utilities and anchor relocations will be required in a few places to straighten paths and avoid obstructions.
During questions, commissioners raised maintenance and snow‑removal responsibilities. Driscoll said maintenance assignments have not been finalized for all segments; in some areas (for example a proposed senior-living parcel on Division Road) frontage sidewalks would be privately maintained per the map as presented.
Unidentified Speaker 5 moved to update the trail plan "to design for safety improvement and connectivity of sidewalks, including the Division Road reconstruction project as presented in the packet;" an unidentified commissioner seconded the motion. The commission voted by voice; the chair announced the motion carried with ayes and no opposition noted.
Next steps: the amendment will be attached to the trail document and forwarded to public works/highways and the village board as part of the Division Road design and eventual contract approval. Phase 1 design work is intended to keep the trail-plan changes on record so future developers and staff implement the sidewalk connections when construction occurs.
