ADUs at Plan Commission Tonight, Trash and Recycling Holiday Schedule

Hi friends and neighbors,

Here are updates as we start off this short week:

Proposed Zoning Changes to Support Accessory Dwelling Units at Plan Commission

As I've noted in previous updates, I have been working with fellow alders, Grant Foster (D15) and Patrick Heck (D2), as well as city staff, on updating our ordinances to support the building of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). ADUs are second dwelling units on properties with single-family homes and can be a great opportunity to provide additional housing options across our growing city. The proposed changes will be discussed and voted upon by Plan Commission at today's meeting at 5:30pm.

ADUs have been allowable in Madison since 2013, and many growing cities across the U.S. are beginning to allow them or to relax zoning regulations to promote more of them. Based on recommendations in the Comprehensive Plan, recent housing reports, and the Mayor's 2021 Housing Forward Initiative, alders, the Mayor, and staff have proposed changes to the City's Zoning code to help make the construction of ADUs easier as another housing choice in Madison (please see Legislative Item 68079). The Common Council also passed a budget amendment I co-sponsored that will create a loan program that will help support construction of more ADUs in the city. 

To find out more about the scope of the proposed changes, please review one or both of these focused resources:

• Brief memorandum from Planning & Zoning Staff
• 15-minute video of Staff Presentation to Plan Commission on Nov. 8, 2021 (starts at Minute 9:30 in video)

Please feel free to submit questions for staff or written comments for consideration by Plan Commissioners and members of the Common Council to: planning@cityofmadison.com, with "ADUs" in the subject line. You are also welcome watch and/or give public comment at today's meeting – links to do so are available here. You are, of course, welcome to email me at district13@cityofmadison.com.

Common Council is expected to consider the proposed changes at our Tuesday, Dec. 7 meeting.

Also at Plan Commission tonight...

• Consideration of a demolition permit to demolish a single-family residence at 3340 Gregory St.
• Creating Section 28.022 - 00518 of the Madison General Ordinances to amend "Arbor House" Planned Development at 3402 Monroe St.  to allow existing bed and breakfast campus to be used as a community living arrangement, adult family home, and adult daycare.

Trash & Recycling Collection Schedule for the 2021 Thanksgiving Holiday

There will be no trash and recycling collection on both Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The drop-off sites will also be closed on these two days.

Below are the directions residents should follow in order to have their trash and recycling collected during the upcoming two-day holiday.

Directions for Residents with a Wednesday and Thursday Trash & Recycling Collection Day
If your trash and recycling are normally collected on Wednesdays and Thursdays by the Streets Division, you should have your carts to the curb by 6:30am on Wednesday, November 24.

Check your collection schedule calendar to determine if you should have your recycling cart to the curb along with your trash cart.

Carts set out late may not be collected.

Directions for Residents with a Friday and Monday Trash & Recycling Collection Day
If your trash and recycling are normally collected on Fridays and Mondays by the Streets Division, you should have your carts to the curb by 6:30am on Monday, November 29.

Check your collection schedule calendar to determine if you should have your recycling cart to the curb along with your trash cart.

Carts set out late may not be collected.

Drop-off Site Information
The Streets Division drop-off sites will be closed on Thursday, November 25, and Friday, November 26.

The sites will re-open on Saturday, November 27 at 9:00am. This will be the final Saturday the sites will be open in 2021.

Additional Streets Division Services Information
More information regarding all services provided by the Streets Division can be found on the Streets Division website, www.cityofmadison.com/streets.

More Recycling News

I was pleased to read in the Wisconsin State Journal recently about how prices have recovered in secondary markets, providing a boon to municipal recycling programs like our own. Not long ago I was under the impression that a lot of what was going into the recycling bins was ending up in the landfill due to a lack of demand from China. Apparently, that has changed, due in large part to pandemic-fueled demand for online purchasing. 

Check the City's Recycling page, which includes the very thorough Recyclopedia, to learn just what should be kept out of your garbage bin and put into your recycling bin, and vice versa.

For a fresh recycling update from Bryan Johnson, the City's intrepid Recycling Coordinator, click here.

Lastly....

Friday, November 26 is Ho-Chunk Day. It's a good opportunity to reflect on those who dwelt here on this land prior to the arrival of white settlers. 

That's all for now. Best wishes as you prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Take care and stay safe.

Tag