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D6 Items of Interest Week of February 3, 2025

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Block 113 (Brayton Lot) redevelopment draft RFP public meeting, Monday, February 3: The City of Madison’s Department of Planning, Community and Economic Development will be holding a virtual public meeting from 6:30pm to 8:30pm on Monday, February 3, 2025 to outline a first draft for a Request for Proposals (RFP) to redevelop Block 113 – formerly known as the Brayton Lot – in downtown Madison.

The draft Request for Proposals is now available. Those interested in attending the meeting are asked to register through Zoom ahead of time. Attendees will receive a link to the Zoom meeting through e-mail after registering. You can learn more about the Brayton Lot redevelopment on the Planning Division’s website for the project.

Upcoming Landmarks (February 10) and Plan Commission (February 17) meetings will be reviewing a package of two zoning text amendments introduced on January 14th and sponsored by Mayor Rhodes Conway and several alders.  Press release with more info. The proposed amendments to the zoning code in Legistar 86650 relate to single-family homes, accessory dwelling units, and small residential infill projects with the goal to make the process more flexible and appear to me to be mostly benign improvements. I do have concerns about removing open space requirements.

My biggest question is why the fundamental changes to the purpose statement of the proposed demolition ordinance 86649 are needed instead of merely amending MGO Sec 41.28 and related areas in Sec 28.185 to allow administrative approval of demolition of non-historic demolitions where the building has no known historic value according to a finding by the Landmarks Commission. That would eliminate review by the Plan Commission which meets the goal of sponsors to streamline the review process. Additionally, if the new building proposed to replace the demolished building is a permitted use, not requiring any review by the Plan Commission, the timing of the review process could be further reduced. 

Changes to the standards in the proposed 28.185(6)(c) appear to prioritize the new purpose statement over adopted plans and include four factors instead of the current seven standards that Plan Commission can apply that could outweigh the public interest in historic preservation. Next week I will blog more info about the new standards for demolition.

The new demolition ordinance removes the existing statement of purpose language that “ensure[s] the preservation of historic buildings” along with five other goals including “aid in the implementation of adopted city plans” with language that only requires “careful consideration of requests to demolish principal buildings with historic value” and balancing the city’s “general interest in preserving buildings with historic interest with its need to accommodate the growth of the population and built environment.” In my opinion, the proposed changes to the purpose statement are not consistent with the adopted strategies of the Comprehensive Plan.

The balancing test in the Comp Plan is between “encouraging redevelopment and infill with protecting the qualities that made existing neighborhoods appealing to begin with” (Comp Plan amended 12.05.23 , page 32). The Comp Plan does not prioritize new housing over protecting the qualities of older neighborhoods. During the Imagine Madison process, residents prioritized infill over greenfield development at the edge of the city. In fact, both the goal to “preserve historic and special places that tell the story of Madison and reflect racially and ethnically diverse cultures and histories” (Culture and Character/Strategy 2) and to “increase the amount of available housing” (Neighborhoods and Housing/Strategy 3) are part of the Comp Plan’s 59 adopted strategies.  See the Draft 2025 Comp Plan Progress Update for the full list of elements, strategies, and goals. 

The Comp Plan recognizes there are often contradictory goals between infill and historic preservation but also promotes a strategy for growth that addresses these goals: “Directing redevelopment and infill to existing auto-oriented commercial centers and other areas identified in the Growth Priority Areas Map, Generalized Future Land Use Map, and sub-area plans will help accommodate needed growth while respecting the historic character of older neighborhoods.” (Comp Plan amended 12.05.23, page 6)

I am still absorbing the meaning of all the changes to the demolition ordinance in Legistar 86649 but I want to make sure residents are paying attention and have the opportunity to weigh in before the proposals come back to the Council on February 25.

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

  • Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, February 3, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a presentation of the Finance Department’s 2025 internal audit plan.

    12. 86889 Discussion regarding negotiations with Bear Development for possible investment of Tax Increment Finance (TIF) funds into an affordable housing project proposed to be located at 501 E. Washington Ave

    Noticed for Closed Session. This proposal is in District 6. Concept plans presented to Development Assistance Team 1.16.25

    13. 86890 Discussion regarding negotiating directions for possible Land Banking purchase of properties located generally at 2010 Pennsylvania Avenue.

    Noticed for Closed Session

    This site was being considered for redevelopment last fall. Bear Development proposed to demolish the building.  I think this could be one of the best sites for the Amtrak rail station and I hope the cool warehouse building could be rehabilitated.

  • Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, February 3, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include accepting a Comprehensive Plan progress update report, as well as development-related requests in District 9 and District 16.

    Upcoming Matters – February 17

    - ID 86649 - Zoning Text Amendment - Repealing and recreating MGO Section 28.185 and creating MGO Section 41.28 related to demolition of buildings to update the approval processes

    Legistar 86649 will be on the February 10th Landmarks Commission agenda and the February 25 Common Council agenda.

    - ID 86650 - Zoning Text Amendment - Amending Sections in Chapter 28 of the Zoning Code related to single-family homes, accessory dwelling units, and small residential infill projects

  • Urban Design Commission: The Urban Design Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 5, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include amending the report of the Lamp House Block Ad Hoc Plan Committee.

    Staff report The Robert M. Lamp House is a Frank Lloyd Wright designed structure located in the interior of the block bounded by East Mifflin St., North Butler St., East Washington Ave., and North Webster St. In 2013, recognizing that previous planning efforts in the area had not adequately considered the Lamp House as a historic and cultural community asset, the Mayor and the Common Council created the Lamp House Block Ad Hoc Plan Committee. The Report of that Committee was accepted and adopted by the Common Council in 2014 and has served to guide redevelopment in the vicinity.

    Alder Bennett (Dist. 2) has requested that the Report of the Lamp House Block Ad Hoc Plan Committee be amended to remove or change recommendations related to maximum building heights and views to and from the Lamp House and is sponsoring a resolution to make those changes. This staff report details amendments to the Report that would fulfill this request.

    The adopted Report can be found here. As indicated above, the Common Council did not approve changes to the Downtown Height Map as recommended in the Report, so that section is proposed to be amended to reflect that action.

  • Meeting Details
  • Community Development Block Grant Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 5:30p in person in Room 215 MMB. Agenda items include a public hearing on the 2025-2029 Draft Consolidated Plan to inform CDBG Unit’s 2025-2029 goals and objectives, an update on the analysis of impediments to Fair Housing choice and two presentations on County housing goals and City zoning impacts on housing

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Public Information Meetings (PIM’s)

  • Block 113 (Brayton Lot) redevelopment draft RFP public meeting, Monday, February 3: The City of Madison’s Department of Planning, Community and Economic Development will be holding a virtual public meeting from 6:30pm to 8:30pm on Monday, February 3, 2025 to outline a first draft for a Request for Proposals (RFP) to redevelop Block 113 – formerly known as the Brayton Lot – in downtown Madison.
  • Public Input Meeting - Sandburg Park, Thursday, February 6: Madison Parks is replacing five existing playgrounds in 2025. On Dec. 5, a virtual playground workshop was held for all five playgrounds, including the playground in Sandburg Park, 2818 Independence Lane. Parks staff presented an overview of the playground replacement program and asked for input on design decisions during break-out sessions specific to each park location.

Announcements and News Releases

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted.

Events

  • In-Person Absentee Voting Begins, Tuesday, February 4: Early voting (in-person absentee) begins today for the February 18 Spring Primary. Check our website for locations and hours.
  • Mobile Vaccination Clinic – Elver Park Neighborhood Center, Thursday, February 6: We're hosting a mobile vaccination clinic at Elver Park Neighborhood Center! All vaccines are free to those eligible…
  • Learn to Cross-Country Ski, Thursday, February 6: Join us for a free cross-country ski workshop at Elver Park, hosted by Madison Nordic Ski Club (MadNorSki)! Open to all ages, you'll learn the basics and practice your skills while exploring the park. Limited to 30 participants. Advanced registration is required and may be done online or by calling 608-266-4711.
  • Groove & Glide, Friday, February 7: Make the most of winter at a Groove and Glide event! Experience the fun and beauty of ice skating under the lights with fun music and games.  All ages and experience levels are welcome. Grab your friends, a date, or family, and have fun on the ice. 
  • Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, February 8: Explore Owen Conservation Park on gentle trails through historic oak openings on a hillside with an Ice Age kettle and along restored prairies with beautiful vistas on this high point overlooking the west side of Madison. Co-sponsored by Madison Parks and the Friends of Owen Conservation Park. Free, family-friendly guided nature walks at Owen Conservation Park are held on the 2nd Saturday of each month, year-round 1:30-3pm. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
  • Skate Cinema, Saturday, February 8: Join us for an evening of ice skating and a movie at Skate Cinema! Bring a lawn chair and a blanket and make it an evening. This event is free to attend and no advanced registration is required. Ice skating will be allowed while the movie is playing - just not in front of the screen! A limited number of loaner skates will be available or bring your own skates. We’ll have an outdoor fire pit for warming up and Travelin' Tom's Coffee for purchase.
  • Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, February 9: Follow rolling hiking paths through the Turville Point Conservation Park woodlands and prairie with beautiful vistas of Lake Monona and Monona Bay. Walks at Turville Point held on the 2nd Sunday every month are co-sponsored by Madison Bird City FUN partners, Madison Parks and Friends of Olin Turville. Meet at the Turville Point parking lot, entrance at the E. Olin Ave. stoplight from John Nolen Drive at the railroad tracks, south of Olin Park (not at the boat launch). No registration is required. No pets are allowed.

 

Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar

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District 6 - Alder Rummel

Alder Marsha Rummel

Alder Marsha A. Rummel

District 6
Contact Alder Rummel