[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6484834,"mediaKeyId","5561727-919fc4a6879e00f7c26cfcc254b7966a","parentId",5561727,"title","Votes at a glance: Plan Commission actions Aug. 11 — conditional use approval, referrals, and plan authorization","audioSeconds",595,"startMs",525000,"endMs",1120000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5561727-919fc4a6879e00f7c26cfcc254b7966a&start=525&end=1120","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5561727-919fc4a6879e00f7c26cfcc254b7966a/thumbnail_525000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6484834/Madison/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-Plan-Commission-actions-Aug-11-conditional-use-approval-referrals-and-plan-authorization","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484834-1e707fbfbeecfa7eea64df7d3e1f873e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773639559&Signature=O2HSeBc1eQfQHvGrxtngZQQHuRNcAeJUvT5xZpzgxa1mVQ2~Ym7xfXM20wXhkj8F9VdMvP04DoJtMKS3RJiZ7-4JlrZfDGJEa-wXWAo0l5NOJqQOhKv7XiMFekQGySzcNOirAtWcYNtL1aBwPrT6vk57yHsELwwsTR5Ns4hNpAAzY3dAPYzMgftRI~u2HfiEPjNa7jBVCow2aCvEccQgbiiTsWiCOrW1WC0uzXlaDGbab22wiRmeZVvz1zEgDQ-mlAJwZP1~-4webteluA7o9xM8-fiS3fHBvJkXPJxJ9uaXuk2kzCITbqLhe3YC09i4DtxeD6Q6MrhYw3G3UNYO~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Madison, WI","date","2025-08-11T21:30:02Z","article","During its Aug. 11 meeting the City of Madison Plan Commission took several procedural votes on consent and referral items in addition to its discussion items. Key outcomes recorded on the public agenda were:

Votes at a glance

- Legistar 88956 (117–125 N. Butler Street, Alder District 2): Approved as a consent public hearing item. The application was for a conditional use in the DR‑2 (downtown residential) District for a five‑story, 73‑unit apartment building (multi‑family dwelling with greater than eight units). The commission opened and closed the public hearing on the item and recorded unanimous approval.

- Legistar 89078 (3357 and 3359 E. Washington Ave; Alder District 12): Referred to the Plan Commission meeting of Aug. 25, 2025. The proposal would change zoning from TRV‑1 (Traditional Residential Varied 1) to CCT (Commercial Corridor Transitional) for the listed parcels; staff recommended re‑notice and additional review by the Urban Design Commission prior to action.

- Legistar 88777 (922–930 N. Fair Oaks Ave and 3357–3375 E. Washington Ave; Alder District 12): Referred to the Aug. 25, 2025 meeting. The proposal seeks conditional uses in the proposed CCT district and Transit Oriented Development Overlay to allow a five‑story mixed‑use building with approximately 3,300 square feet of commercial space and 171 dwelling units, plus a two‑story, six‑unit townhouse building.

- Legistar 89327 (Authorization to prepare downtown area plan and adopt public participation plan): The Plan Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Common Council authorize the Planning Division to prepare the downtown area plan and public participation plan. (See separate staff presentation and recommendation.)

Procedural notes: Item 4 (Legistar 88956) was approved on consent after the commission opened and closed the public hearing and recorded unanimous approval. Items 5 and 6 (Legistar 89078 and 88777) were referred by unanimous vote to allow re‑notice and Urban Design Commission review; because they were referred, Plan Commission staff said public testimony on those items will be taken at the Aug. 25 meeting or written comments may be submitted in advance.

Why it matters: The consent approval advances a five‑story, 73‑unit apartment building project in Alder District 2; the two referrals (items 5 and 6) will return on Aug. 25 with opportunity for additional Urban Design Commission review and public comment. The downtown area plan authorization will set staff up to draft coordinated land‑use and curb‑management guidance for the central city.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Plan Commission: Meeting of August 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On Aug. 11 the Plan Commission approved one conditional use on the consent agenda, referred three zoning/conditional‑use items for re‑notice, and recommended authorization of a downtown area plan to the Common Council.","taxTitle","Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin","taxId",2852,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6484839,"Plan Commission recommends authorization to prepare downtown area plan, citing coordination with economic strategy",808,6133000,6941000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5561727-919fc4a6879e00f7c26cfcc254b7966a&start=6133&end=6941","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5561727-919fc4a6879e00f7c26cfcc254b7966a/thumbnail_6133000.jpg","/articles/6484839/Madison/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Plan-Commission-recommends-authorization-to-prepare-downtown-area-plan-citing-coordination-with-economic-strategy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484839-35517abc89141090f14debf8fd4e10b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773639559&Signature=C0VvxuNbID4uQvDWhXug416LNBzAH4f6s-JWYbAeQn6QiaTfqMH6EnkHlJQGTGi7zXxmg6qasTrd4wu65UMLjJgHRKsDfojByOVJtbt0cZEIcUqHzjcUKqv4RDW6LdcS6kznMkxpk77~AocLty5BjYfisO1e1SvtXpgcTDoYyfK9Cvy7DjQIPz8BKofIU778gX-0G6ulFh5vdvJutbhLdJRg7DUuS0flYnm00~F53ueMEVGzMrKftqiKi-9fr~rw3F7vlbvhmnMZKRIVyPmNo8CTWWdw5VD-1Ja82ZRoNr~~V6siLaGHLqJeHyKeFCj~Agwg97k4sdoWZgvAalum5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Madison Plan Commission voted unanimously Aug. 11 to recommend that the Common Council authorize the Planning Division to lead preparation of a downtown area plan and adopt a public participation plan (Legistar 89327).

Planners Dan McAuliffe and Rebecca Kinnear told the commission the downtown area encompasses roughly 700 acres and contains dense housing and employment: they cited roughly 34,000 residents, 1,600 housing units, and over 60,000 jobs in the broader downtown geography used for planning analysis. The downtown area plan will examine land use, height and zoning guidance, transportation and curb management, curbside uses, potential intercity rail station siting, neighborhood assessments, cultural resource conservation and placemaking strategies.

Staff said the downtown area plan will be closely coordinated with a separate downtown economic investment strategy that covers a larger geography. The two efforts will share baseline analysis and some engagement events; the economic strategy will focus on market and economic drivers and may propose “big moves” for the greater downtown, while the area plan will produce land‑use and implementation guidance specific to the downtown boundary.

McAuliffe and Kinnear described a three‑phase public engagement approach: (1) issues, opportunities and goals; (2) draft recommendations; and (3) plan review and adoption. The planners said they will use a mix of standard outreach and some “innovative” engagement techniques to capture public attention and to coordinate engagement with the economic strategy process.

Alder Glen asked whether the planning effort would intersect with lakefront and John Nolen Drive implementation; staff said the downtown plan will consider access to shoreline and coordinate with those projects without duplicating ongoing work. Planners said they do not expect to propose a community action strategy area (a targeted anti‑displacement program) within the downtown because much of the area’s lower incomes are driven by student population and substantial recent redevelopment.

Commissioners voted unanimously to recommend that the Common Council authorize the Planning Division to prepare the downtown area plan and public participation plan. The motion was moved by Alder Eger and seconded by Alder Field.

Why it matters: a downtown area plan will frame future zoning, public‑space improvements, curb management and larger investments in the central city. Staff said the plan will leverage analyses from the downtown economic investment strategy and the UW–Madison campus framework update to reduce duplication and align recommendations.","The commission unanimously recommended that the Common Council authorize the Planning Division to prepare a downtown area plan and public participation plan (Legistar 89327), coordinated with a larger downtown economic investment strategy and UW–Madison campus framework updates.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6484844,"Madison Plan Commission pauses tree protection ordinance to gather more stakeholder input",5693,804000,6497000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5561727-919fc4a6879e00f7c26cfcc254b7966a&start=804&end=6497","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5561727-919fc4a6879e00f7c26cfcc254b7966a/thumbnail_804000.jpg","/articles/6484844/Madison/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Madison-Plan-Commission-pauses-tree-protection-ordinance-to-gather-more-stakeholder-input","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484844-294fe0965913cd438bc2ed9ac57f817c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773639560&Signature=Da~UIHd6WKHpeVqp-GLGWW0vYYvChfRWA5C~JuCmX2MLMDGZsZW24ejzCfu~gko6etLdacYIGtflYEEF3dOEAGYABHgZ0xtBT4oY03r4jLFzc1hqIXP8IhRu8QhfZ3fCc2eVu3T3c3keLMG5s4~og15LHV4rcUazd6i2hTRDHHdgXGb86tidLzbpqQ0gXC81H0X6dcGYSjttpuM87yFCWlRoZ9DxKSK4CifTGUerixNtK-DfsupJsuKIhIcgpdHwmsTMu3Sc3sDpUHkdW3P10hQSm8o1E6-wab-wWjgCytk5EmaDuoh0FiqrXVRx~eKDSagbSKB6lTH9k4sbpGgnXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Madison Plan Commission voted unanimously Aug. 11 to refer proposed amendments to the city’s street tree protection rules (Legistar 89254) to the commission’s Aug. 25 meeting following a lengthy presentation by the city arborist and extended public and commissioner questions.

The amendments would change several Madison General Ordinance sections to strengthen protections for mature street trees, establish a dedicated street tree replacement fund, and require earlier involvement of forestry staff in development projects. The proposal, presented by City Arborist Ian Brown, is intended to increase the city’s canopy resilience and better align tree-protection practice with industry standards.

Brown told commissioners the revisions aim to move Madison toward its 40% community canopy goal by protecting larger trees that provide the majority of canopy benefits. Under the proposal, the “tree protection zone” would scale with trunk diameter (one foot of protection per inch of trunk diameter), replacing the current flat five‑foot buffer; the ordinance would also create a dedicated street tree replacement fund to channel payments for unavoidable removals back into urban forestry projects and planting, rather than into the city’s general fund.

Brown said the city and federal partners found in a recent urban forest inventory that roughly 10% of trees (by stem count) that are 15 inches or greater provide about 53% of the city's leaf area, and that protecting those larger trees is the most effective way to retain canopy benefits such as shade, stormwater interception and air‑quality improvement.

The proposed ordinance would also authorize the city to suspend or revoke certain permits (for example, a right‑of‑way occupancy permit) if tree‑protection rules are violated, Brown said, and would require applicants who plan work near street trees to consult with certified arborists and with Forestry earlier in the project timeline. Brown said the administration intends a Jan. 1, 2026 effective date if the ordinance is adopted, to allow time for outreach and adjustments before the next construction season.

Public comment was split. Bill Connors, representing Smart Growth Greater Madison, said his group did not take a formal position but objected to the outreach process used to draft the ordinance. Connors asked whether the city had engaged general contractors and developers during drafting and warned that adding review requirements could lengthen permitting timelines and construction costs.

Sandra Ward, co‑chair of the Capital Neighborhoods Tree Protection and Planting Committee, spoke in support and said the changes could better protect Madison’s canopy. The staff report listed several additional registrants in support and one in opposition who did not speak; the record of written registrants will be posted with the agenda, Planning Division staff said.

Commissioners pressed staff and Brown on several operational details: how the ordinance would affect sidewalk‑repair and city street projects, how utility pruning interacts with city forestry, whether the Development Assistance Team (DAT) process currently includes forestry, whether tree condition would be a formal factor in driveway or removal decisions, and how on‑site, last‑minute construction changes would be handled.

Brown said sidewalk replacement can harm roots and that forestry recently purchased an air‑spade to inspect roots non‑invasively. He explained that city forestry already participates in DAT but that the ordinance seeks to bring forestry into more conversations earlier. Brown said the ordinance would rely on certified arborists’ reports submitted by applicants, and that Forestry would review and advise on mitigation, potential site improvements (for example, Silva Cells), or replacement requirements. He told commissioners that there is a proposed compensation schedule tied to removed trees and that funds paid into the new replacement fund would be used to improve planting conditions—particularly in constrained downtown sites.

Several commissioners expressed support for the ordinance's intent but asked for clearer language and more stakeholder outreach. Commissioner Solheim and others highlighted the need to explicitly account for tree condition and for clarifying whether the protection zone applies only to the public right‑of‑way or extends onto private property. Brown said the city’s jurisdiction is limited to right‑of‑way trees for the ordinance but that other permit processes can involve forestry for private‑property impacts.

After discussion, Alder Field moved — and Commissioner Solheim seconded — a referral of the ordinance to the Plan Commission’s Aug. 25 meeting to allow additional review and stakeholder input. The motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: staff and Forestry said they expect to use the Aug. 25 hearing to clarify ordinance language, describe how Forestry will be engaged in permitting and DAT, and respond to questions from contractors and neighborhood groups. Brown earlier told the commission the plan is to return the ordinance to Common Council for a vote on Sept. 16 and, if adopted, to implement the rule changes on Jan. 1, 2026.

Why it matters: street trees provide long‑lasting environmental and neighborhood benefits, and the proposed changes would change how development projects interact with mature trees. The referral gives staff time to respond to concerns about permitting logistics, staffing capacity for reviews, compensation mechanisms, and how the ordinance will be enforced or applied in practice.","After a two-hour presentation and extended public Q&A, the Plan Commission unanimously voted to refer proposed revisions to Madison’s street tree protection rules, including a new street tree replacement fund and size‑based protection zones, to its Aug. 25 meeting for further review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Plan Commission actions Aug. 11 — conditional use approval, referrals, and plan authorization

Plan Commission recommends authorization to prepare downtown area plan, citing coordination with economic strategy

Madison Plan Commission pauses tree protection ordinance to gather more stakeholder input