Zion, Network Redesign, Traffic - D15 Update 2/20/22

A resolution Designating City of Madison Polling Locations for the 2022 Spring Election will be introduced at this week’s Common Council meeting. The polling locations for District 15 residents are determined by ward and are listed below. You can find additional information about voting, including information on registering to vote and voting absentee at https://myvote.wi.gov.

• Ward 14 Unity of Madison, 601 Tompkins Dr

• Ward 15 Lake Edge United Church of Christ, 4200 Buckeye Rd

• Ward 16 Pinney Library, 516 Cottage Grove Rd

• Ward 17 Lussier Family East YMCA, 711 Cottage Grove Rd

• Ward 18 Hawthorne Library, 2707 E Washington Ave

• Ward 19 Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave

Zion Update

Also at Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, a resolution Amending the Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Worthington Park Neighborhood Plan will be introduced for referral to the Plan Commission. The Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Worthington Park Neighborhood Plan was originally adopted in March 2000. The proposed plan amendment is in response to the change in use of the site following the Zion Faith Community’s departure as they joined with the Lakeview Moravian Community Church in a new collaborative congregation called Common Grace.

In the 2000 plan, this site was listed under the Neighborhood Assets section as a Center of Worship and was not contemplated as a Redevelopment Site. The proposed plan amendment recommends a designation of Medium Residential for this site. Specifically, it recommends residential development of no more than three stories and 70 dwelling units per acre. Such a redevelopment would provide a gradual transition from the 4-story mixed-use building immediately to the south to the one- and two-story homes across Division Street to the west, Linden Avenue to the north, and Dunning Street to the east.

I have asked for this proposed plan amendment to be included on the March 10 SASYNA meeting agenda and at the Plan Commission on March 21, with a final decision by the Common Council expected on March 29.

The plan amendment process is separate from, but related to, the rezoning request initiated by the proposed development of the site. The schedule for that review process is in the Development Project section below.

Metro Transit Network Redesign

Public review of the Metro Transit Network Redesign proposal continues with a virtual meeting on Thursday and a new survey. You can find details on the proposed plan as well links to the survey and meeting details here. An eastside focused meeting for Districts 6 & 15 will also be organized and I will share out details once the date is set.

Lake Edge Neighborhood Association Meeting

On Monday, join Lake Edge neighbors for the monthly LENA meeting beginning at 6:30p. They will have a special guest speaker, Ann Waidelich, a local historian who will speak on the early history of our neighborhood. You can find the details here. 

Traffic Safety

On Wednesday, the Transportation Commission will take up several items related to traffic safety including review of the draft Vision Zero Action Plan and action on the proposed Safe Street Madison Round 1 project selection. You can read the Safe Streets Madison – Staff Memo for more information about recommendations and find detailed lists for all projects reviewed in the documents linked below. I’ve called out some District 15 projects in each section. Additional locations not included below may also be listed as a Potential Future Project Location.

Proposed Round 1

• Winnebago - Driver Speed Feedback Board

• E Washington Ave near Hawthorne Library - RRFB and Continental Crosswalks

• Dempsey Rd - Calvert / Path crossing area - islands around curve

• Cottage Grove Rd at Cap City Path - Add light up yield to ped/bike sign

Projects Needing Engagement/Data Review (potential Round 2)

• N Sixth St Bike Blvd including E Washington & Packers crossing

• Rosemary Ave - near Worthington Park 

• E Washington at Hwy 30

• E Washington at Oak

Projects Recommended, but "On Hold"

• Eastwood

• Spaanem Ave - Ruth to Linda Vista

• E Washington from Marquette to Baldwin

• Atwood at Waubesa/Miller: Recommend waiting for 2023 project on Miller Ave due to impacts. West intersection is feasible for RRFB installation but impacted by utility work on Miller project, East intersection not feasible currently as needs fire hydrant relocation for RRFB placement (could be done with Miller project)  

You can find the full agenda as well as links to register to provide comment at the meeting or to send in written comments to the commission here. Thank you to everyone that has written in already.

Architecture of Trees at Edna Taylor

Join Master Naturalist JoAnn Riecke on Saturday for a free family-friendly guided walk or take a walk on your own any day in February to carefully observe the trees along the trails at Aldo Leopold Nature Center and Edna Taylor Conservation Park. We will learn about and compare deciduous and evergreen trees and look at their various shapes and branching patterns. Weather permitting we may be drawing some trees/branching patterns and share what we notice. Learn how these characteristics help the trees adapt to the environment and their specific locations. Details here.

In the News

• Madison Arts Commission and Monona Terrace Announce Call for Artist Entries for Rooftop and Olin Terrace Sculptures 

• Dane County Face Covering Order to Expire March 1 

• First Library Takeover Event Scheduled for February 26, 2022 

• Madison Commons, Media Digest

• City of Madison Complete Meeting Schedule

• City of Madison Calendar of Events

District 15 Public Works Projects

(You can find a list of all engineering projects in District 15 here.)

• Davies St., Dempsey Rd., Maher Ave. - Design work is continuing following feedback received at the January public meeting.

• St. Paul Avenue, Ohio Avenue, Talmadge Street, Jackson Street, Lafollette Avenue Reconstruction - The project will be advertised for bids in early-February with construction expected to begin mid-April. Information on construction schedule will be mailed to adjacent residents and posted to this project page once known.

• Eastmorland Sidewalk Installation - Planned for construction in 2022

• Starkweather Drive/Garver Path - Much of the work has been completed. Some issues will be fixed in the spring and the final path sections in OB Sherry Park will be finished this summer.

• Starkweather Creek Watershed Flood Study - First public meeting held

• Atwood Avenue - Awaiting funding

District 15 Development Projects (dates are tentative and subject to change)

Zion Church Redevelopment Proposal (2165 Linden Avenue)

• 1/26 - Urban Design Commission (Informational presentation)

• 2/28 - Application Submittal

• 4/13 - Urban Design Commission

• 4/25 - Plan Commission

• 5/10 - Common Council

Save the Date

• March 10 - Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Worthington Park Neighborhood Plan Amendment at SASYNA (3/21 Plan Commission, 3/29 Common Council)

• April 23 - Earth Day Challenge 2022 - Register by 4/22 

• June 18 - Lake Edge/Eastmorland joint neighborhood garage sale

Subscribe to the District 15 blog via the sidebar above to receive email notification when new updates are published. If you have any questions or thoughts you can reach me at district15@cityofmadison.com.