Plan Commission approves emergency generator at Green Tree Chapel Hill Park after resident concerns about notice

The Madison Plan Commission on April 7 unanimously approved a conditional use to install a standby electrical generator at the former Greentree Landfill, now Green Tree Chapel Hill Park, at 6802 Hammersley Road to support the site's gas-extraction system during power outages.

The Planning Division staff recommended approval. Lisa, a staff planner, told commissioners the generator pad would be located about 40 feet closer to the nearest residence on Connecticut Court than existing equipment and roughly 400 feet north of McKenna Boulevard. City engineering estimated the generator would run about one hour every other month for maintenance and for the duration of unexpected outages, totaling roughly 20 hours in most years.

Jay McClellan, a resident whose house backs up to the site, told the commission he first learned about the project from a postcard he received the prior week and said neighbors needed more information about the necessity of the generator and clearer outreach. "What's very frustrating about this is not even having a basis to understand if this is really needed or not," McClellan said. He expressed concern about communication between city departments and asked for more detail.

Jack Brody of the City of Madison Engineering Division explained engineering maintains two portable generators that are brought to landfill sites during outages and that Green Tree has the highest potential for producing methane gas and is therefore the highest-priority site for backup power. "The engineering division has two portable generators that we bring to our landfill sites when we do lose power," Brody said. He said the goal is to restore power and have operations running within about four hours; the proposed permanent generator would provide on-site standby power in situations when staff cannot deliver a portable generator.

Commissioner Solheim moved to find that conditional-use standards were met and approve the generator at 6802 Hammersley Road subject to staff conditions; Alder Field seconded. The chair recorded unanimous approval. The engineering representative agreed to follow up with concerned residents who had called the city.

Ending: The commission approved the conditional use with conditions; engineering staff will follow up with residents who asked for more information and contact details were offered for further questions.