City skyline over Lake Monona.
Planning

Public Engagement

The Planning Division engages with the public in a variety of ways. This can include social media posts, electronic newsletters, postcard notices and in-person and online meetings.  

The Division staffed six Boards, Committees and Commissions (BCCs) and staffed 88 meetings this year. The six BCCs are:

  • Downtown Coordinating Committee
  • Joint Campus Area Committee
  • Landmarks Commission
  • Madison Arts Commission
  • Plan Commission
  • Urban Design Commission

Planning staff attended 31 neighborhood meetings for development proposals. Staff attend these meetings to help residents understand the development review process for a project. 

The Division held 104 outreach events for the three Area Plans that were underway in 2025. The Southwest Area Plan team held several focus groups. This included two focus groups for Chinese speakers and two for Spanish speakers. The Southeast Area Plan organized two Hiestand Neighborhood “Paint and Pack" events. Community members painted the basketball courts in two parks and received backpacks and school supplies. They also talked with City officials and staff about community concerns and potential projects for the area.

  • 104 Planning Project Meetings
  • 31 Development Proposal Neighborhood Meetings
  • 88 Committee & Commission Meetings
  • 3,085 Social Media Followers
  • 72,209 Website Users
  • 12,183 Project Postcards Mailed
  • 42 Project Emails Sent
  • 1,310 Project Email Subscribers
  • 31,005 Public Hearing Postcards Mailed
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