D6 Items of Interest Week of August 13, 2023

The virtual neighborhood meeting on August 9 about the redevelopment of the Essen Haus properties at Wilson + Blair was attended by over 60 people including the JCAP Real Estate team, city staff and neighbors. Here is the Wilson + Blair presentation. Here is the Cap Times coverage Essen Haus Redevelopment Proposal Evokes Worry Over Madison Rents.

Residents had questions about traffic on S Franklin and S Blair, the hotel design, the proposed affordable housing, step backs and the transition to the Germania Condos, and the alley/living street. Neighbors requested a traffic demand management study including review of adding an egress on Blair at the north end of the property and a shadow study. Several people urged the developer to reuse the historic facades on E Wilson. The developer plans to give informational presentations at Landmarks Commission and Urban Design Commission before they make a formal application. They will need approvals from Landmarks, UDC, Plan Commission and the Common Council.

Planning staff posted the public’s proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plans GFLU maps on Friday. In the Comp Plan Interim Update you can find links to a pdf of the proposed changes and to an updated interactive map. There were 79 amendments that will be reviewed by the Plan Commission on September 7.
 

Monday August 14 – Landmarks Commission - 5p LC Agenda 08.14.23

2. 79099 3701 Council Crest - New Construction on a Designated Madison Landmark site (District 10)

In 2022, this landmark site was divided into two parcels, one with the landmarked c1854 Old Spring Tavern at 3706 Nakoma Rd and a second parcel at 3701 Council Crest that is being proposed for construction of a new 4,500 sf house. The second parcel is also part of the landmark site. The question for the Landmarks Commissioners and residents in other historic districts is whether the new use (the proposed house) is a “minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building and its site and environment” per MGO 41.18(1) which states that new construction on a landmark site must “meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation” to qualify for a certificate of appropriateness. The front of the tavern faces away from Nakoma Rd which complicates the review of the site. There is also a 250+ year old black walnut tree that could be damaged if the new construction is too close. I hope the Landmarks Commission takes a careful look at the whether the scale and massing of the proposed building frustrates the public’s interest in protecting and preserving the City’s historic resources.
 

Wednesday August 16 – Urban Design Commission – 4:30p UDC Agenda 08.16.23 Room 206 MMB

UDC has a packed agenda with several signage packages, unfinished business, and three informational presentations including 702 E Washington in District 6.

9. 77005 20, 22, 30 N Carroll Street - Public Building, New Wisconsin History Center in the Downtown Core (DC) District. 4th Ald. Dist. Owner: State Historic Society Applicant: George Austin Initial/Final Approval is Requested UDC is an Advisory and Approving Body. The applicant is proposing the redevelopment of the existing Wisconsin History Museum and two adjoining properties at 20 and 22 North Carroll Street for the new 100,000 square-foot Wisconsin History Center. The applications for demolition and conditional use will be at the Plan Commission meeting on August 28.

12. 79239 702 & 734 E Washington Avenue - New 14-Story Mixed-Use Building in Urban Design District (UDD) 8. 6th Alder Dist. Owner: DCH Properties, LLC Applicant: Joseph Lee, JLA Architects + Planners UDC will be an Approving Body. This is an informational presentation.

79239 Plans for 702 & 704 E Washington

From the staff report: “The applicant is proposing the construction of a new 14-story, podium-style, mixed-use, multi-family/commercial development at the corner of E Washington Avenue and North Blount Street. The project will be comprised of approximately 233 residential units and roughly 13,000 square-feet of ground-floor commercial space. The development proposal includes structured parking, community meeting room, and various resident amenities. …

As noted in UDD 8, the maximum number of stories currently permitted on the subject site (Block 2b) is eight stories, with the potential for up to two bonus stories for a total of 10 stories. As outlined in MGO 33.24(15)(e)(12), Upper Level Development Standards, development’s seeking bonus stories shall incorporate a combination of design elements as enumerated therein, providing sufficient public benefit to warrant the additional height. As part of the UDC’s review purview and ultimately approval authority, the Commission will evaluate the proposed development for consistency with MGO 33.24(15)(e)(12) and ultimately make findings as to whether the requested height is warranted.

The proposed development is comprised of 14 stories, which is in excess of what would be allowed under the current UDD 8 height limitations. As such, the proposed development would require a text amendment to the UDD 8 standards related to height. Staff notes that multiple amendments to the UDD 8 height standards have previously been approved to accommodate different development proposals. At the time of report writing, the Alder has been working with staff and considering a possible code amendment, though no formal amendment has been introduced at this time. Any code amendment would require a separate review by the UDC, in addition to a separate review on the development itself. The intent is that any such amendment would be adopted prior to the UDC being asked to make a decision on the development itself.”

The TNLA Council conducted an online survey to gather input about the proposal via their neighborhood list-serve and will be sharing the results soon.

I will share more details about the survey and the potential UDD 8 amendment in the next week.

13. 76205 304-318 N Broom St/408-430 W Johnson St/407 & 431 W Gorham St - New Student Housing Building in UMX Zoning. 4th Ald. Dist. Owner: Chad Matesi, Core Madison Broom, LLC Applicant: Brian Munson, Vandewalle & Associates UDC will be an Advisory Body

Core Spaces is back…with a second informational presentation.

From the staff report: “The applicant is proposing an eight and fourteen-story student housing development with frontages along Broom, Gorham, and Johnson Streets. …

As noted on the Downtown Height Map, the maximum recommended height is up to 12 stories (172 feet) as it relates to those properties fronting on W Johnson and W Gorham Streets and six stories (88 feet) for those fronting on N Broom Street. In addition, the Capitol View Preservation Limit will also apply to the proposed development. The Zoning Code requires that buildings must meet both the maximum number of stories and the maximum height.

However, a recently approved modification to the Zoning Code allows, in cases where applicants voluntarily enter into a contractual agreement to provide affordable housing, the maximum number of stories may be exceeded, provided the building remains at or below the maximum height (172 feet and 88 feet, as noted above). The applicant is exploring the possibility for additional stories (maximum 12 and six stories, where 14 and eight stories are proposed) within the maximum allowed height. Further discussions are in progress related to compliance with the provisions of the ordinance, including those that speak to affordability, floor area, etc.
 

Wednesday August 16 – Economic Development Committee – 5p EDC Agenda 08.16.23

1. 78895 Directing staff to take the steps necessary to conduct an experimental closure of the 400-600 blocks of State Street, including notification of directly impacted stakeholders. (District 2)

Fiscal Note: The proposed resolution directs staff to pursue an experimental closure of the 400-600 blocks of State Street to non-emergency vehicular traffic in 2024 in order to test the feasibility and success of a pedestrian mall concept. Large expenditures identified when studying the results of the 2024 experiment will be included in future Capital and Operating budgets. No additional City appropriation required in 2023.
 

Wednesday August 16 – Alcohol License Review Committee – 5:30p ALRC Agenda 08.16.23

17. 79085 Public Hearing - New License Red Panda LLC • dba Ahan 744 Williamson St • Agent: Kenneth Brown Estimated Capacity (in/out): 100/20 Class B Combination Liquor & Beer • 30% alcohol, 70% food Police Sector 408 (District 6)