January 25, 2023 Project Update
On January 17, 2023 the Common Council approved the TOD Overlay Zoning District as recommended by the Transportation Policy and Planning board and Plan Commission (including historic district properties within a quarter mile of high-frequency transit).  The TOD Overlay boundary can be examined on this map.  The second substitute (with the aforementioned historic properties included in the overlay) passed.  Staff will work to integrate TOD edits, as adopted, into the zoning code. 

January 13, 2023 Project Update
Videos from two recently held TOD Overlay Zoning District meetings are available for review:

• January 12, 2023 meeting.  City staff presented background information on TOD Overlay Zoning and answered questions in a virtual meeting.  Presentation slides are available, as is chat from the meeting (note that questions were answered by staff for those who raised hands in the meeting, not via chat).  
• January 10, 2023 meeting.  This in-person meeting was hosted by the Hill Farms Neighborhood Association.  City staff were invited to present and answer questions on TOD Overlay Zoning.  While this was not a City meeting, it was recorded and is being made available for those who are interested.  

Those interested in providing comments on TOD Overlay Zoning to the City Council in advance of its January 17th meeting or in registering to comment at that meeting may do so here.  

December 20, 2022 Project Update
The Planning Division will be hosting a virtual meeting on Transit-Oriented Development Overlay Zoning on Thursday, January 12th at 6pm.  Advanced signup is required.  The meeting will contain information from previous public meetings and Committee meetings covering what TOD Overlay Zoning is, why it is being pursued, and the various components of the drafted ordinance that will be in front of Council on January 17th.  We will be showing some information and case studies on how the TOD Overlay relates to national and local historic districts due to the additional interest in that topic generated by the Transportation Policy and Planning Board’s (TPPB) and Plan Commission’s recommendations to Council that historic districts be included within the Overlay area.  The City's online zoning map has been updated with the new draft TOD Overlay area recommended by TPPB and Plan Commission.

December 13, 2022 Project Update
At its December 12 meeting the Plan Commission 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.  However, the Council President and Vice President have postponed Council consideration of the proposed TOD overlay zoning ordinance from January 3, 2023 to to January 17, 2023 to allow alders more time to communcate the recommended substitute proposal to constituents.  

December 7, 2022 Project Update
At its December 5 meeting the Transportation Policy and Planning Board (TPPB) recommended 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.  Staff has prepared a summary map that shows what areas would be added if the Plan Commission and Common Council follow the TPPB's recommendation.  Staff has also prepared detail parcel maps for the Plan Commission's consideration as a result of the TPPB recommendation, in addition to the orginally proposed maps.

The Plan Commission will be discussing TOD overlay zoning after a public hearing at its December 12 meeting.  Anyone wishing to speak at the Plan Commission may register once the agenda is posted.  Comments on TOD overlay zoning may also be submitted to pccomments@cityofmadison.com. 

November 16, 2022 Project Update
A full draft of the TOD overlay zoning ordinance is available for review.  It is posted under Legistar #74703.  Detailed maps of which parcels are proposed for inclusion, based off of previous Plan Commission discussions, are available  and are also shown on the City's interactive zoning map.  Staff anticipates the approval process will be: 

• November 22, 2022: Introduction at Common Council (no discussion or debate), referral to the Transportation Policy and Planning Board and Plan Commission.
• December 5, 2022: Transportation Policy and Planning Board discussion.  
• December 12, 2022: Plan Commission public hearing and discussion.  
• January 3, 2023: Common Council deliberation, vote on TOD overlay zoning ordinance. 

Written comments on the TOD overlay zoning ordinance should be submitted to pccomments@cityofmadison.com. 

September 15, 2022 Project Update
Staff is currently working on drafting TOD overlay zoning ordinance language and coordinating with City Council ordinance sponsors.  Introduction of the ordinance at Council is currently expected at the November 22, 2022 Council meeting, after which Council will likely refer the ordinance to the Plan Commission and Transportation Policy and Planning Board.  A public hearing will be held at the Plan Commission prior to the ordinance returning to Council for a final hearing and vote.  A full draft of the TOD overlay zoning ordinance will be posted to this page when it is complete.  In the meantime, refer to past Plan Commission materials from the June 23rd and August 8th meetings.  

TOD Public Meetings
Thank you to everyone who attended and provided feedback at the TOD overlay zoning public meetings.  For those who were unable to attend a PDF of the slides is available, and the meetings were recorded (each meeting has the same staff presentation): 

May 11, 2022 12:00 PM (this meeting had some technical difficulties with lag)
May 11, 2022 6:00 PM 
May 16, 2022 12:00 PM
May 16, 2022 6:00 PM

Additionally, a "storymap" that reviews what zoning and transit-oriented development is and why the City is undertaking this effort is available for review for those who would like to learn more.  If you have any questions please contact Ben Zellers and Colin Punt at tod@cityofmadison.com.   

Transit-Oriented Development
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is pedestrian-oriented, compact, mixed-use development that is centered on 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 City is exploring ways to encourage TOD along the future bus rapid transit (BRT) line and planned high-frequency local transit service through the use of TOD overlay zoning, consistent with Land Use & Transportation Strategy #5 (pg 36) in the 2018 Comprehensive Plan.

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