Updates & Week of Dec. 19 Meetings of Interest for District 2

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District 2 Updates and Meetings of Interest

City meetings continue to be mostly virtual with details listed in City Meetings of Interest below. Common Council meetings are hybrid so the public can attend in person or via Zoom.

Stay in touch with your neighbors through either Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc. or Campus Area Neighborhood Assoc.

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There are three sections to this week's update:

1. District 2 Updates
2. COVID-19 Resources & Information 
3. City Meetings of Interest to District 2

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1. DISTRICT 2 UPDATES

• Info, Resources, and a Calendar of Important Dates for Those Considering Running in the Spring 2023 Common Council Elections - nomination papers are now able to be circulated.

• City Updates Salt Use Ordinance for Public Sidewalks, Lots - The new change limits the use of salt or other melting agents to the amount necessary to treat the ice so it can be removed. The new change also allows the City to educate and enforce salt standards to property owners who use too much salt or melting agents.

• Multiple goals met during 2022 Summer Strategic Plan - The Madison Police Department met several of its crime reduction goals outlined in the 2022 Summer Strategic Plan.

• From the Mayor:

  • Complete Green Streets Initiative Moving Forward

  • Mayor's Remarks at Historic Bus Rapid Transit Groundbreaking

• Update on District 12 Common Council Vacancy

• 2023 Neighborhood Grant Program guidelines and application are now available on the City's webpage! Grant applications will be due February 20 by 4:30 p.m. What will you and your neighbors do? Start exploring ideas for physical improvements and leadership and capacity building initiatives.

• Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is a pedestrian-oriented, compact, mixed-use development style focused along high quality public transit. It typically includes a mix of housing, office, retail, neighborhood amenities and other uses within walking distance of a transit station. The proposed legislation was reviewed by the Transportation Policy and Planning Board on Dec. 5 and Plan Commission on December 12. Both recommended to Common Council properties within local or national historic districts that are in proximity (within 1/4 mile) to high-frequency transit be included in the TOD overlay zoning area. Council consideration of the proposed TOD overlay zoning ordinance has been changed from Jan. 3 to Jan. 17, 2023 to allow alders more time to communicate the recommended substitute proposal to constituents. Note that none of District 2, including the Mansion Hill Local Historic District, is included in the proposed TOD Overlay District because all of the downtown area is excluded due to its existing density and zoning classifications that already facilitate higher density. 

Dec. 21 Informational Meeting for Ian's Pizza Alcohol License Application

On Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 3:00pm, Ian's Pizza By the Slice at 319 N. Frances Street will be holding an onsite informational meeting for interested parties regarding their liquor license application at this Ian's location. From what I understand, Ian's is proposing to have several tap beer lines and possibly serve wine by the can from 11am until 10pm each day. 

This application is expected to be considered by the Alcohol License Review Committee at their Jan. 18 meeting. MPD Central District has expressed some concerns about this application due to the large number of patrons that can frequent this Ian's location, even before 10pm. The Campus Area Neighborhood Association will likely also weigh in on the application. I share some concerns about restaurants that have the potential to become alcohol-focused destinations, particularly in this neighborhood, so the discussions at both the Dec. 21 informational meeting and the Jan. 18 ALRC meeting will likely focus on possible assurances concerning trainings for servers, security, and the justifications for the license and the proposed serving hours.

Reduced Metro Bus Service over Christmas

---- Dec. 24 and Dec. 25

• Buses will follow Saturday schedules on December 24 and Sunday schedules on December 25. Service will end early on both days. The majority of last trips leave between 4:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. on both days.

• Route 80 will follow the weekend recess schedules.

---- Dec. 26

• On Monday, December 26 buses follow HOLIDAY schedules on the following routes:

• 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 26, 30, 31, 32, 36, 40, 50, 51, 59, 63, 67 and 68

• Routes 55 & 75 operate regular weekday schedules to and from Verona/Epic.

• Route 80 operates a shortened weekend recess schedule. Final scheduled trip departs Memorial Union at 9:15p.

Metro's customer service center will be open from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM on Dec. 24, 25, and 26. Full information here.

Updates on District 2 Redevelopment Proposals

Below are details on several redevelopment proposals in District 2. If you have input or questions about any of these proposals, feel free to contact me at district2@cityofmadison.com or contact the neighborhood steering committees as noted below.

------ Campus-State Street Parking Garage on Lake Street

On Dec. 12, Plan Commission approved the requested demolition application, rezoning request from Urban Mixed Use to Planned Development, and the Conditional Use Permit application for the redevelopment of the Campus-State Street Parking Garage at 415 N. Lake St. Mortenson Development. Mortenson was selected by the City as the developer in a competitive process, proposes a large student-focused apartment building with 248 apartments (some units having reduced rents for under-resourced students) above a new city parking garage that will include a new intercity bus terminal. The Frances Street side of the parking garage will remain as it is. It is anticipated that Common Council will consider the rezoning request at our Jan. 3 meeting, but the proposal has otherwise been approved.

The Urban Design Commission, however, will see the proposal again for final approval, likely in January. UDC earlier gave initial approval to the public portion of the construction - the new bus terminal and parking garage that will replace the existing garage between Lake Street and Hawthorne Court. While the proposal seems to be moving forward, I hope that some of the lingering concerns of UDC and those who use Hawthorne Court for pedestrian access, deliveries, standing in line, and emergency exits will be addressed as best as possible now that the circulation of the parking garage and bus terminal have effectively been solidified. The design of Hawthorne Court and delivery/loading zones on University Avenue and Lake Street are still to be determined, so there should be future opportunities for addressing some concerns.

There is a city website for the project due the public component - the parking garage and intercity bus terminal, so you can continue to track its progress there.

------- 428-444 State Street

JD McCormick Properties' proposal to redevelop 428 to 444 State Street was expected to be back before the Urban Design Commission on Dec. 14 and at Plan Commission on Jan. 9, but UDC's consideration was referred to an unknown future meeting date at the request of the applicant. As a result, the date of their Plan Commission appearance is also unknown.

At the Dec. 14 meeting, UDC heard from city staff that the applicant will be working with the Parks Division to address remaining concerns related to how the proposed new building's design interacts with the adjacent Lisa Link Peace Park.

Back at their June 29 meeting, UDC referred the proposal to a future meeting rather than making recommendations to Plan Commission due to various concerns about the proposed building, including its potential impacts on the park, the height and massing of the building's front facade, and establishing the precedent of replacing State Street buildings. The report from that meeting can be found here. The latest project plans and related materials can be found here, including city staff's most recent memo on the proposal, but some additional revisions are likely due to the Parks Divisions' concerns.

If the UDC does make an advisory recommendation in the future, Plan Commission will then consider the Demolition Permit and requested Conditional Uses. In January the Landmarks Commission considered the requested demolitions of the three buildings and found in part in their advisory opinion to Plan Commission that 432-436 and 428-430 State Street (the two easternmost buildings) have historic value based on architectural significance, cultural significance, or historic significance.

------- St. John's Lutheran Church at 322 E. Washington Ave.

At their Dec. 14 meeting, the Urban Design Commission gave their final approval for this proposal's requested zoning change from Urban Mixed Use to Planned Development, compliance with Urban Design District #4 guidelines, and related design matters. This redevelopment of St. John's at 310-322 E. Washington Ave., proposed by St. John's Lutheran Church in partnership with Urban Land Interests, seeks to demolish the current church and an addition to construct worship and social service/community spaces on the first floor of a new building with 9 stories of mostly affordable and workforce apartments above with underground parking below. 

The Plan Commission's consideration of the proposal is expected on Jan. 9, including the proposed demolition, rezoning, and Conditional Uses. I'll be sure to publish more information about Plan Commission's consideration in early January.

A neighborhood steering committee from the James Madison Park District of Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc., has been meeting with the development team to evaluate the proposal and provide input. If you'd like to participate please email bob.klebba@gmail.com.

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2. COVID-19 RESOURCES & INFORMATION

From Public Health Madison & Dane County:

• COVID-19 vaccine webpage
• Learn about the many testing sites in Dane County (in Spanish)
• COVID-19 Data Dashboard
• The latest Data Notes, including "Inpatient hospitalizations have been stable over the past month, and we currently have a 14-day average of 74 people hospitalized with COVID in Dane County hospitals each day."

Dane CORE - for rental and utility assistance.

Get Free COVID Tests at Home

Visit the City's Coronavirus Website for Madison's COVID updates, responses and resources.

Dane County Food Pantry Network from Community Action Coalition.

State of Wisconsin COVID-19 resources and information from state agencies, including the State Dept. Public Health

Info on UW-Madison's response to the pandemic.

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3. CITY MEETINGS OF INTEREST TO DISTRICT 2

Below are some pertinent agenda items from city committees that are meeting this week. If you click on meeting "Details" below, you will find participation and viewing options, and a link to the full meeting agenda. If you click on an item from within an agenda, you will see all documents that relate to that item.

I appreciate hearing from you on any agenda items on which you have a particular interest or concern.

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Sustainable Madison Committee: Details

4:30pm, Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Item 3

Update on Urban Tree Canopy Task Force Report

Item 4

MadiSUN Update

Item 5

Sustainability Website

Item 6

Air Quality Monitoring Grant

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Transportation Policy and Planning Board: Details

5:30pm, Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

AGENDA ITEMS

Agenda Item 3

This resolution approves a Complete Green Streets Policy to incorporate Complete Green Streets principles of street design for all modes of transportation into public way improvements and project phases.

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Alcohol License Review Committee: Details

5:30pm, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022

Public Hearing

Item 17

Public Hearing - New License

McCunes Edible Spoons LLC • dba Sookie's Veggie Burgers

502 State St • Agent: John McCune • Estimated Capacity: 50

Class B Combination Liquor & Beer • 5% alcohol, 95% food

Aldermanic District 2 (Alder Heck) • Police Sector 403

Sookie's Veggie Burgers at 502 State Street application would extend their current alcohol serving hours from 10pm to 2am on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. They also have applied to add liquor to their current license that is limited to beer sales ending by 10pm each night. Sookie's estimates that 5% of their total revenue will come from alcohol sales.

In recent years, downtown alders have generally not supported new licenses that extend alcohol service until 2am, but there have been some exceptions for restaurants that serve food whenever serving alcohol. MPD Central District has also not been supportive of most similar license applications, particularly those that have the potential to become alcohol-focused destinations whether that is their intent or not, so the discussion at the ALRC meeting will need to provide assurances about trainings for servers, security, and the justifications for the license extension. The Campus Area Neighborhood Association will likely also weigh in on the application.

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