Wheeler & CV Development Update

Happy Holidays everyone! Here is the latest update on the proposed residential development at the corner of Wheeler & CV. 

At its October 20, 2020 meeting, the Common Council voted against the early annexation and rezoning of this property owned by Cherokee Park, Inc. (CPI). There is great concern that this parcel and the Raemisch Farm parcel to the south between N. Sherman and CV are in the DeForest School District, and that any children living in future developments there would have to be bussed to Windsor to school, despite there being two MMSD elementary schools within walking distance of both areas. The social fragmentation and burden on families to have children attending school in another community is too great. Therefore, until and unless the land comes into MMSD, I argued that these areas are unsuitable for residential development, and my colleagues agreed.

I have been working all summer and into the fall with MMSD to explore how a deal might be made with the DeForest School District to swap these parcels for other land closer to DeForest that is currently in the MMSD taxing jurisdiction. In an extremely rare turn of events, it seems that the two districts have come up with a plan they both consider to be a win-win which will bring the Raemisch Farm and CPI land into MMSD as soon as next month. Landowners in these areas need to be officially informed and the plan still needs to be approved by the School Boards of both jurisdictions so nothing is final yet. I will keep you apprised of developments.

As soon as the redistricting takes place, a new petition for annexation and rezoning will come before the Common Council. Annexation and rezoning will hasten the sale of the forested part of that land to the City of Madison for conservation purposes - an outcome that seems to have unanimous support from all stakeholders and the community. 

In the meantime, CPI has decided against selling the land at Wheeler & CV to the Annex Group. Therefore, the "Union at Madison" development proposal is dead. CPI is currently evaluating other concepts for developent of that land. At the same time, the Northside Planning Coalition's Land Use Group and the Northside Community Coalition have been studying and working on alternative proposals. Here's hoping we can all work together for another win-win solution for the Northside!