Common Council

Highlights for the Week of May 23, 2022

Meetings

• The Common Council will meet virtually at 6:30pm on Tuesday, May 24.
  • Meeting details
  • Meeting agenda
  • Watch online
• For information about additional City meetings scheduled for this week, please consult the City Meeting schedule.

Announcements

• Food scraps recycling for 2022 returns to two farmer's market drop-off sites this summer from June 14 to September 27.
  • Market Site 1: South Madison Farmer's Market (1602 S. Park Street)
    • Hours: 2:00pm to 6:00pm.
    • Dates open: Only Tuesday markets from June 14 to September 27, 2022
  • Market Site 2: Eastside Farmer's Market (202 S. Ingersoll Street)
    • Hours: 4:00pm to 7:00pm
    • Dates open: Only Tuesday evenings from June 14 to September 27, 2022

Also, consider composting your food scraps in your own backyard.

• The Streets Division recently installed two fully electric compactors at the Sycamore drop-off sites. These less-than-glamorous devices have a big positive impact for our climate, saving eight gallons of diesel fuel an hour. That's 356 gallons of fuel a week! Streets wants to name these compactors, and they're looking for your suggestions. Learn more here.
• To address the growing and urgent issue of violence in our community, Public Health Madison & Dane County announced $1,065,000 in funding that is now available for agencies and organizations that support specific and targeted efforts aimed at reducing violence in our community. Read more here.
• The City of Madison is pleased to announce the launch of the Backyard Homes Project and the availability of new financing to support the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The Backyard Home's Project is a joint effort undertaken by the Department of Planning, Community and Economic Development to foster the development of ADUs and create more housing options through creative solutions.

ADUs come in all shapes and sizes. They are widely known as the small backyard cottage or carriage house. However, an ADU can also take the form of a new housing unit attached to an existing home, or carved out of an existing space like a garage, attic or basement, or built above a garage.

ADUs have been allowed in the City since 2013, but they required special approval through the conditional use process. In an effort to make easier the creation of ADUs, the City made ADUs a permitted use in all zoning districts where single-family homes are allowed. Thus, in these parts of the City, a property owner can create an ADU without needing any special permit or approval. The City made other changes to the ordinance to increase the allowable size (livable square footage) to 900 square feet, and to limit ADUs to no more than two (2) bedrooms.

Easing the regulatory requirements for ADUs is an important step to encourage their development in the City. However, getting financing to create them remains a major barrier for homeowners.

The City's Backyard Homes Project will help address that problem by offering direct loans to City home owners interested in developing ADUs. The Backyard Homes Project makes $400,000 available for loans in 2022. This is a limited opportunity and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more about the Backyard Home's Project by visiting the ADU loan page here.

Save the Date

• Metro Transit and the City of Madison Transportation Policy and Planning Board will hold a virtual public hearing at 6pm on May 31 to discuss the proposed network redesign expected to go into effect in June of 2023.
• Legistar Link
• Agenda
• Register to Speak

Interested persons are encouraged to attend the virtual public hearing or provide feedback prior to the hearing date. Consideration will be given to views and comments expressed at the public hearing, as well as to all comments collected from surveys, emails, phone calls, letters, etc. over the past several month. Complete info can be found here.

• Safety Saturday on the Square is coming on June 11, 8am-1pm! Join the Madison Fire Department, MGE, and other community partners for fun activities and information about fire safety, bike safety, car safety, water safety, and much more! Read more here.