Common Council

Plan Commission questions why National Register of Historic District areas were excluded from the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) overlay rezoning

On Monday, August 8, 2022, Madison's Plan Commission met with the major item of discussion being the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and its overlay rezoning of ¼ to ½ mile on either side of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route. 

Aug. 8th Plan Commission Meeting Video and PowerPoint Presentation:
Zoom Recording: Madison City Channel - Plan Commission: Meeting of August 8, 2022 (cityofmadison.com) (TOD discussion 19:55 to 1:38:00)
PowerPoint Presentation:   70576 - 2022-08-08_TOD Overlay.pdf (legistar.com)

The Plan Commission commissioners were questioning why National Register of Historic District areas were excluded from that overlay rezoning.  The concern I have is that the goal of the National Historic District is the preservation of the current historic nature of the neighborhood and historic sites which might conflict with the goal with the TOD to rezone single family homes to multifamily status.  The proposed changes for single-family residential zones would be to allow for two-unit structures with an Accessory Dwelling Units(ADU) where a single-unit structure and ADU are currently allowed. The commissioners and alders did not vote but, instead, took a poll.  One commissioner was against adding National Historic Districts to the TOD with the remaining commissioners and alders in favor.  Additionally, there was discussion of making National Historic Districts into Local Historic Districts if those neighborhoods wanted the benefit of local historic property protections. This gave direction to city staff who will develop an ordinance for the TOD overlay rezoning.  

The Plan Commission has completed their informal input into the draft elements of the TOD-Overlay Ordinance. Planning Division and Zoning staff and sponsoring Alders will work over the course of the coming months to draft a formal ordinance for introduction in fall 2022. The ordinance will be formally reviewed by the Transportation Policy & Planning Board and Plan Commission prior to final consideration by the Common Council in late 2022 or early 2023.

 
Additional resources:

University Hill Farms Historic District
The University Hill Farms Historic District is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion C, in the area of Architecture, at the local level of significance. It is an architecturally significant collection of single family and multi-family residences, churches, private office buildings, and a school, that together constitute a well-defined and visually distinct geographic and historic entity within the boundaries of the city of Madison.
https://www.hillfarms.org/about/history

2016 University Hill Farms Neighborhood Plan 
The University Hill Farms Neighborhood Plan recommends maintaining the current land uses and
intensity of development in most parts of the neighborhood. (page 20) This designated Low Density Residential district is recommended for continued low desity residental use of 0-8 du/acre.
(page 21)
Adopted by the Common Council on January 5, 2016, File ID No. 39335
https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4459687&GUID=D7165D3F-97B5-489D-94AD-D6E52BCFC53F

2018 City of Madison Comprehensive Plan 
The City has adopted more than 60 Neighborhood Plans, Neighborhood Development Plans, and Special Area Plans to help guide development at this finer scale. (Page 46)
https://imaginemadisonwi.com/sites/imaginemadisonwi.com/files/document/pdf/Combined_Comprehensive%20Plan_interactive_0.pdf

City of Madison's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
The City of Madison is working to implement a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system as part of an effort to improve its existing transit system and reduce travel times across the region.
https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/bus-rapid-transit

What is an Accessory Dwelling Units(ADU)?
An accessory dwelling unit, usually just called an ADU, is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot.
https://www.buildinganadu.com/what-is-an-adu

Correction: Aug. 22, 2022 4:52 pm CST
An earlier version of this blog misstated that the ordinance will be presented and voted on at the next Plan Commission meeting on Monday, Aug 29, 2022 at 5:30 pm.  From there it will go to a City Council meeting in October for final approval. The correct information is that the Plan Commission has completed their informal input into the draft elements of the TOD-Overlay Ordinance. Planning Division and Zoning staff and sponsoring Alders will work over the course of the coming months to draft a formal ordinance for introduction in fall 2022. The ordinance will be formally reviewed by the Transportation Policy & Planning Board and Plan Commission prior to final consideration by the Common Council in late 2022 or early 2023.