Council approves Hawks Landing PUD with traffic-calming condition after residents press easement, traffic and maintenance concerns

The Common Council of the City of Waukesha approved the final site plan, architectural review and planned-unit development (PUD) agreement for Hawks Landing — a proposed six‑building duplex project totaling 12 units off Jill’s Drive — after a lengthy public hearing and council debate on Jan. 21, 2025.

Matthew Lowe, an attorney for the Garden Prairie Owners Association, told the council he and association members were concerned that recorded easements may allow only utility access and not a full public driving route. “Our understanding was the easement is that it was originally only from people from the private Garden Prairie Drive to be able to go eventually over towards Dills Drive, but not the other way,” Lowe said, pressing the council for clarity on ownership, who would maintain the road, and how traffic would be limited.

Nancy Nadalny, president of the Garden Prairie Owners Association, said residents support emergency access but want to limit cut‑through traffic and avoid sharing the Garden Prairie name to reduce GPS‑directed traffic. “That easement was strictly for the utilities,” Nadalny said. “We were never under the impression the road would go through.”

Doug (city planning staff) presented project plans and described the property’s zoning history, wetlands and stormwater measures, proposed setbacks and private‑drive geometry. He told the council the developer has not yet recorded an access easement across an adjacent parcel because the matter involves a third‑party ownership gap now before the courts — and that building permits and the certified survey map (CSM) will not be issued until easements are finalized.

City staff and the city attorney stressed the council’s primary concern is emergency access. The City Attorney explained that the Fire Prevention Code and the International Fire Code adopted by the city require at least two access points and a minimum width for emergency access, and that the fire marshal has authority to require wider access if necessary. “There must be two access points, at least two access points in every development,” the City Attorney said, adding that 20 feet is the accepted minimum and local officials may require more.

After public comment and council discussion about traffic, maintenance costs for the private drive and potential GPS routing impacts, Alderman Wells moved to approve the final site plan and PUD with all staff and planning‑commission comments. The motion was amended on the floor to require staff, working with engineering and the fire department, to implement a focused traffic‑calming ‘choke’ or narrowed entrance at the transition between the new development and the existing Garden Prairie Drive — narrowing to a 20‑foot width at that entrance subject to engineering approval. The council adopted that amendment as part of the motion.

The motion passed 8–5. Council members noted the approval was conditional: building permits and the CSM remain blocked until the access easement is recorded and related plan‑commission/staff comments are satisfied. Staff also noted that the development will be served by private trash and snow removal and that the developer will supply any required new street signage.

The council’s action signals conditional approval for the Hawks Landing project and directs staff and the developer to complete easement and survey work and to coordinate with the fire department on the traffic‑calming design before permits issue.