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Planning commission backs Hilltop Grove rezoning, sends application to Village Board for March 2 public hearing
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Summary
The planning commission unanimously recommended that the Village Board approve rezoning roughly 77 acres for the Hilltop Grove planned residential development, with staff recommending the ordinance include 62 conditions; the applicantsaid the TIA found minimal delay increases and the county recommended forward-intersection warning devices and vegetation clearing.
The Menomonee Falls Planning Commission on Feb. 3 unanimously recommended that the Village Board approve rezoning about 77 acres owned by members of the Merriman family to create the Hilltop Grove planned residential development (PRD). Planner Amy Bennett told the commission staff recommends approval and noted 62 conditions that will be included in the PRD ordinance; a Village Board public hearing is scheduled for March 2.
"Staff is recommending approval of the rezoning," Planner Amy Bennett said during her presentation, summarizing the application history and the changes since the prior Village Board review in October. Ben, representing Viridian Homes, said the concept plan remains largely unchanged but the applicant supplied additional study material requested by staff and the county.
The applicant summarized a traffic impact analysis (TIA) conducted last April that modeled build-out and 2035 background traffic, including the Bella Vista subdivision. The TIA found acceptable level-of-service results (LOS C or better) at most movements and calculated only a small increase in delay — about 1.7 seconds — for a westbound approach at Mill Road. "It's really not a a material, I would say, change," Ben said of the traffic impacts. County review of crash and warrant data did not identify a data-driven warrant for major redesigns or reduced speed limits; the county nonetheless recommended local measures including "install[ing] two forward intersection indicators... including flashing beacons" for southbound traffic and clearing vegetation that limits sightlines.
Commissioners asked about intersection treatments that had been discussed previously, right-of-way constraints on Mill Road, fire access review, sidewalks and tree preservation. Planner Bennett confirmed sidewalks/paths will run along Lannon and Mill roads up to the northern property line and that conservation woods on the north will be preserved. Ben said, if approved, the project would likely start mass grading in the fall with utility work over the winter and first homes delivered in 2027; subsequent buildout is expected in roughly one phase (25–30 lots) per year.
After questions and brief discussion Commissioner (speaker S2) moved to recommend the Village Board approve rezoning the Merriman parcels to PRD and to create the Hilltop Grove PRD; the motion passed unanimously. The commission forwarded the application, the TIA and supporting materials to the Village Board for the March 2 public hearing, where the board will consider the ordinance and the 62 attached conditions.
