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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

Council passed this $150k contract to DMI unanimously. The three housing forward initiatives passed on the consent agenda:

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 2d

On to the 3 "Housing Forward" zoning text amendments put forward by the mayor to make it easier to build housing. The first change reduces min lot depth/width/setback in low-density residential lots would allow for more divisions of very large lots.
Legistar: madison.legistar.com/LegislationD...

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

Harrington-McKinney saying that she is concerned about how this was on the consent agenda even though they have had an extensive conversation about it. She hopes alders look carefully at items like this before putting them on the consent agenda (any alder can pull an item from consent agenda).

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

There is also some concern that DMI only covers part of the downtown planning area, and so it looks like only part of that area will get better planning resources than the other neighborhoods.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

Staff really pushing that the city is getting a lot out of the contract. Alders wondering whether this is worth $150k (or at least want to justify it to their constituents).

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

The city will get some data and other "deliverables" from the contract, even though part of the $1M report will be private to DMI. Staff say that this greater detail from this information will help the city in their planning.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

Knox wonders whether other organizations were considered for the downtown contract (like the Chamber of Commerce). Staff say that DMI is the primary business org downtown, and so is best positioned to involve businesses. This money is coming out of the state street TID (TID 50).

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

Several alders are basically asking why the city needs to put in $150k if they are likely to get $1M anyway - DMI sees the city money as seed money. Alder Madison concerned that some communities won't be reached by consultants, wants to review outreach plan. BTW, this is a preview of budget season!

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

Timeline below. Part of the project is private, but part will go to the city under a contract. The $1M will go to consultants and a staff person. DMI thinks that having the city portion work with the private part could bring benefits to both side.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

Downtown Madison Inc. plans on making a development and investment plan for downtown that coincides with the soon to be planned downtown area plan and UW campus plan. They plan to raise $1M, with $150k coming from Madison. They are going to use the money in part of hire national consultants.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

Harrington-McKinney moves to reconsider a vote to fund a $150k contract for Downtown Madison that was adopted on the consent agenda on Sep. 2nd. Harrington-McKinney wants to hear about it. This passes 16-4 with Ochowicz, Tishler, Figeroa Cole, and Govindarajan
madison.legistar.com/LegislationD...

City of Madison - File #: 89347

Title: Authorizing execution of a sole source $150,000 contract with Downtown Madison Inc. for the preparation of a Downtown Economic Investment Strategy (District 2, District 4, District 6, District ...

madison.legistar.com

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

Alder Ochowicz notes that he agrees that this is not a great use for the site, but the decision of how the land should be used is delegated to Plan Commission, so Council can't really do anything about that tonight. Pritchet is the only to vote against the CSM for the property.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

Right now Alder Pritchett is concerned about the new coffee shop at 53 West Towne, concerned about the amount of traffic, flooding, and there being too many coffee shops in the area. Council is voting on the CSM tonight, not about use of property.

www.councilytics.com/Plan_Commiss...

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

Smart Growth, a pro-growth lobbyist, said that some changes had been made to the new street tree ordinance that makes it better, but still would prefer the city handles recovery of street tree value through private contacts with developers for recovery costs rather than permit revocation.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 1d

Madison Common Council tonight unanimously approved a new Street Tree Ordinance that allows for a possible revocation of permits if developers harm city owned street trees. This was discussed extensively at Plan Commission.
bsky.app/profile/ther...

www.cityofmadison.com/city-hall/co...

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 2d

I guess this company's entire thing is to build fake 2 story shipping container coffee drive-throughs in the TOD overlay district. One on the left approved in March on Lien Rd, One on the right was approved tonight.

Details
www.councilytics.com/Plan_Commiss...

www.councilytics.com/Plan_Commiss...

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 2d

Private covenants are pretty common, especially in newer developments or rich neighborhoods. I don't actually see why they should be preferred over zoning. In a large city is a lot easier to change zoning through the democratic process, and covenants can be very exclusionary.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 2d

Finally, on the consent agenda Plan Commission approved conditional use approvals for a replacement to Sherman Middle School and Shabazz.
Legestar: madison.legistar.com/LegislationD...

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 2d

Planning Director Meagan Tuttle says that Mayor intends to soon introduce changes to the TOD overlay to make it easier to build "missing middle" (small-scale multifamliy) housing. (How about some restrictions on drive-through!!!).

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 2d

Much like the second story, that bench is never meant to be used...it's just to meet formal requirements of zoning...

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 2d

Finally they unanimously recommended approval of some minor changes to the conditional use process, making conditional use approvals good for 3 years (from 2 years) and some other changes to ease the process for developers.
Legistar: madison.legistar.com/LegislationD...

City of Madison - File #: 90056

Title: Amending the Conditional Use Scope of Approval.

madison.legistar.com

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 2d

Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval of the stepdown and ADU zoning changes.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 2d

Guequierre is the only one who votes for his amendment so it fails. TR-R stays in the min lot width/size/setback changes. The main motion passes unanimously and is recommended to Common Council.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 2d

Alder Glenn also won't support it, thinks that a big thing that has changed in the city is the 100k more people. Heck says he struggled with the TR-R problem, but says that restricting their neighborhood to changes is "cringe."

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 2d

Guequierre thinks that the shapes of the lots on the Highlands don't lend themselves to being split, and also they have a "unique historical value." This is his district. Wasniewski says that no neighborhood should be exempt from change, so does not agree - thinks this would reduce property rights.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 2d

Alder Guequierre amends the first to eliminate TR-R from the first set of zoning changes dealing with setbacks. Heck seconds. Wow.

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