D6 Items of Interest Week of February 5, 2024

The meeting highlight this week is the second Passenger Rail Station Meeting on Tuesday from 6-7:30p. The registration link for the virtual meeting is below. Six of the eight proposals are "downtown" (three in D6) so I hope you are following the discussion and will offer your opinion since each proposed station has its pros and cons.

The news highlight last week was a Dane County Circuit Court Judge reversed a c2022 Plan Commission approval and Common Council vote to reject an appeal of a development project at 3734 Speedway. The Judge has vacated the Conditional Use Permit requiring the cessation of construction of a building that is 70% completed. The Judge said the Plan Commission and Common Council failed to act according to law when approving a Conditional Use permit without requiring the development to conform to the correct parking location for a "commercial block building". 

City Attorney Michael Haas sent alders a summary that he approved sharing: 

"Last Thursday, in the case of Barnes vs. the Dane County Circuit Court vacated a Conditional Use Permit (“CUP”) for a multi-use development at 3734 Speedway Road that was originally granted in May 2022.  The site is well under construction (it is very unusual to have a CUP vacated at this stage) so we are still working through the best procedural options but are in communication with the developer about their obligations and restrictions following the ruling.  The top-level summary is that the Judge found that there was not enough discussion in the Plan Commission decision about parking in the building envelope to support the “substantial evidence” standard required for approving the CUP.  

While we disagree with this interpretation, it serves as a good reminder that the zoning code should be understandable and judicial review provides transparency and feedback to our processes.  This decision does not overturn a City ordinance or invalidate our conditional use process, nor do we expect it will change our interpretation of parking regulations in the future or related to previously approved projects.  While the Court found that additional findings are required in the record, this is not the end of the process.  The developer can re-apply for a CUP at this site and the Plan Commission will have the opportunity to make a better, more complete record prior to a future vote." 

Stay tuned...for clarification of NMX zoning as it relates to underground/under the building parking for the commercial block building form.

Monday February 6 – Plan Commission – 5:30p PC Agenda 02.05.24

6. 78634 139 W Wilson Street (District 4): Consideration of a demolition permit to demolish a four-story apartment building

7. 78635 139 W Wilson Street (District 4): Consideration of a conditional use in the UMX (Urban Mixed-Use) District for a multi-family dwelling with greater than eight (8) dwelling units; consideration of a conditional use in the UMX District for a new building greater than 20,000 square feet and more than four stories; and consideration of a conditional use pursuant to MGO Section 28.134(3) for projections into the Capitol View Preservation Limit; to construct 16-story apartment building with 320 units

Note: Items 6 and 7 should be referred to February 26, 2024 at the request of the applicant. At the January 24 UDC meeting, the Commission voted to recommend to the PC to deny the land use requests. The 2/1/24 letter from Capitol Neighborhoods Inc captures all the reasons why this proposal should not move forward.

Upcoming Matters – March 11, 2024 - 529 University Avenue - Demolition Permit and Conditional Use - Demolish restaurant-tavern to construct a 12-story mixed-use building with 1,450 square feet of commercial space and 33 apartments. Isthmus: Is The Vintage Building on University Avenue Historic Enough? According to the article “...city staff did recommend a finding of historic value for the Vintage building last July, noting the building was a “mostly intact rare example of an early filling station and Spanish Revival construction in Madison.” The developer proposes a 12-story building on a 4,750-sf lot on a busy intersection in what the article refers to as “boutique student housing tower’...

Tuesday February 6 – Passenger Rail Station Meeting– virtual  6-7:30p Register here

The City of Madison Transportation Division, along with Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Amtrak, and consultants, will discuss the eight potential passenger rail station sites located along three general corridors—downtown/Isthmus, First/Johnson near the coming Madison Public Market and by the former Oscar Mayer plant at Commercial/Aberg.  There will also be a brief question and answer panel, paired with a public input survey, and an open house after the presentation. 

Power Point from January 30, 2024 presentation

Passenger Rail Station Study

Wednesday February 7 – Street Use Staff Commission– 10a SSSC Agenda 02.07.24

Street use applications are pouring in, spring is coming...

Wednesday February 7 – Board of Public Works – 4:30p

18.* 81832 Approving Addendum No. 1 to 630 E Washington Ave - Salvation Army Dane County, Contract No. 9137 (District 6) Sponsors: BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS  

The Developer, The Salvation Army Services, Inc., has previously been approved for a two-lot CSM, the demolition of two existing buildings and the construction of a five-story building containing a mission house, counseling services, health services, a place of worship and a standalone three- story apartment building. The improvements in the right of way are covered by the private developer agreement. The schedule from the development team was to build the apartment building and all public infrastructure to serve the building. Upon completion of the apartment, construction on the five-story building and public infrastructure improvements to serve the building would follow under this developer agreement. The apartment structure and public infrastructure improvements to serve the facility are near completion and acceptance. The Salvation Army Services, Inc. is continuing the fund-raising efforts for the five-story building and requested this developer agreement be closed upon all finalization procedure requirements by City Engineering. The public right of way shall be restored to conditions required by the City. The Salvation Army Services, Inc. will be under a new developer agreement with the City for the construction and public infrastructure improvements to serve the five-story building. This addendum allows for the revision of the plans and developer agreement to create two separate projects for this site. RECOMMEND TO ADOPT

21. 81860 Approving plans and specifications and authorizing the Board of Public Works to advertise and receive bids for Safe Streets Madison 2024 (Citywide).

This contract includes several small-scale, traffic-calming and pedestrian-enhancement projects, citywide. All projects have been ranked according to the City’s “Safe Streets Madison” program. The estimated cost of the project is $1,932,667.73.

No isthmus projects are listed for 2024.

24. 81856 Proposed Street Assessment Policy Update for Redevelopment Projects Street Assessment Policy Update for Redevelopment Projects  For informational purposes.

I have been working with several alders on policy changes to remove some of the barriers to using tax incremental financing to pay for street improvements and sewer pipe upsizing 81592 necessary to serve new residents.

Wednesday February 7 – Board of Public Health Madison and Dane County – 5:30p PHMDC Agenda 02.07.24

E PRESENTATIONS 1. 81862 Violence Prevention Grant Award Recommendation 2023-2024. Roadmap to Reducing Violence 2024 Violence Prevention grant awards

H Board of Health Resolutions 1. 81869 Board of Health for Madison and Dane County Resolution #2024-05 Authorization to Enter into Contract with and Distribute funds to Selected Applicants from the 2024 Roadmap to Reducing Violence in Madison and Dane County RFP