Plan Commission backs rezoning for Reserve at Lannon Road, conditionally approves Hilltop Grove preliminary plat amid traffic concerns

The Menomonee Falls Plan Commission unanimously recommended that the Village Board adopt an ordinance rezoning about 40 acres east of Lannon Road and north of Mill Road to a Planned Residential Development (PRD) to create the Reserve at Lannon Road, and it conditionally approved the related Hilltop Grove preliminary plat.

Planner Amy Bennett presented the PRD concept and preliminary plat, saying the site would include roughly 52 single-family lots ranging from about 12,000 to 24,000 square feet (average about 14,000 sq ft; median 13,280 sq ft), two access points from Lannon and Mill, two cul-de-sacs and preserved wooded outlots. She recommended the commission forward the rezoning to the Village Board with staff conditions, the conditions and recommendations from Waukesha County Parks and Land Use and any changes required by the Wisconsin Department of Administration.

Several commissioners questioned traffic impacts on Lannon (also transcribed as 'Land' or 'Landon' Road) and Mill Road given the combined development in the area. One commissioner challenged a traffic study that concluded conditions were acceptable, saying, "You've got somebody's gonna die at Landon and Mill Road before they do something about that," and urged more county traffic controls. Amy Bennett said the preliminary plat had been submitted to Waukesha County for review and that the county letter in the staff packet included conditions; she noted the county would determine whether a full traffic impact analysis or specific improvements were required.

Commissioners also discussed water and sewer availability and zoning mechanics: staff and members clarified that R1 zoning would require minimum 1-acre lots and that rezoning to PRD would lock in an approved plan until applicants returned with revisions, and that the project could not proceed without water and sewer service. Commissioners requested that applicants and their consultants be prepared to present county comments and any traffic studies to the Village Board at the public hearing.

A motion to recommend the rezoning to the Village Board was made and seconded; after discussion and the conditions noted by staff and county review, the Plan Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval and set a public hearing before the Village Board for Aug. 3. The commission also conditionally approved the Hilltop Grove preliminary plat subject to the 48 staff conditions, Waukesha County conditions/recommendations and any changes required by the Wisconsin Department of Administration, and that motion likewise passed unanimously.

Both recommendations will be forwarded to the Village Board for final action; commissioners asked staff to ensure applicants bring any traffic studies and county responses to the board-level public hearing.