Southwest Area Plan/Hampshire Place Road Extension

DISTRICT 20 UPDATE:

I have received requests for followup information related to the Hampshire Place Road Extension. Below is staff response. 

Alder Harrington -McKinney

Regarding Hampshire Place, Southwest Area Plan staff had a meeting with Alder Harrington-McKinney on January 12th. Here is a summary of the things we conveyed to her.

Hampshire Place was first dedicated to the City with the plat of Sherwood Forest in 1958.  The City then adopted its official map in 1966.  The extension of Hampshire Place south of Kingsbury Court through the parcels currently addressed as 1021 and 1022 Hampshire (then in the Town of Madison) was reserved when the official map was adopted. The dedication of the short unbuilt section of Hampshire Place at Sunridge/Suffolk in 1977 is consistent with the 1966 official map reservation.

The City's Subdivision Regulations require that an officially mapped street, greenway, park, etc. be dedicated to the City when a parcel is subdivided and developed. While the City could acquire the unbuilt section of Hampshire Place to construct the road if a future Common Council determined that there was a public need to do so, the likeliest means of connecting Hampshire Place between Suffolk Road/Sunridge Drive and Schroeder Road would be if/when the parcels at 1021 and 1022 Hampshire are developed. City of Madison water and sanitary sewer are “stubbed out" at the current northern and southern ends of Hampshire Place in anticipation of future development and as required by City ordinance.

In addition to reflecting the existing Council-adopted official map, staff also refers to Council-adopted policy and ordinances when undertaking planning efforts like the Southwest Area Plan.  The City's Complete Green Streets Guide and Comprehensive Plan encourage interconnected neighborhoods, and the City's subdivision code prohibits cul-de-sac streets when it's possible to make a street connection. 

The current property owner can absolutely continue to use the property as it has been used.  Area Plans are about providing guidance for the future, and a future owner may opt to further subdivide the property, consistent with what is allowed by not only plans, but the zoning ordinance and subdivision ordinance.  The area plan sets the City's expectations if/when that happens. 

The Southwest Area Plan will be introduced to the Common Council at its Tuesday, May 5, 2026 meeting to begin the City's final review and approval process. Below is the adoption Timeline:

• Introduced to Common Council – May 5, 2026
• Board of Park Commissioners – May 13, 2026
• Urban Design Commission – May 20, 2026
• Transportation Commission – June 3, 2026
• Community Development Block Grant Committee – June 4, 2026
• Landmarks Commission– June 8, 2026
• Plan Commission – June 15, 2026 
• Common Council – Consider Adoption – June 23, 2026

Each Board, Commission and Committee meeting during the adoption process will provide the opportunity for public comment. Agendas and instructions on how to register for public comment — both spoken and written comments — are typically posted the Friday prior to each meeting. Agendas will be posted on the meeting notice pages linked in the timeline.

Thank you,

Urvashi