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Verona planning commission recommends denial of 511 West Verona apartment-and-event‑center plan over parking shortfall
Summary
The Verona Plan Commission voted 6–1 on Jan. 6 to recommend denial to the Common Council of a planned development that would add 116 apartments and a 14,281‑square‑foot, 200‑person event center at 511 West Verona Avenue, citing an unresolved 175‑space parking deficit and uncertain long‑term shared‑parking agreements.
The Verona Plan Commission voted 6–1 on Jan. 6 to recommend that the Common Council deny a planned development for 511 West Verona Avenue that would add 116 apartments and a roughly 14,281‑square‑foot event center for about 200 people.
City planning staff told commissioners the project would require 345 parking spaces under code but proposes 170 on site, creating a requested exemption of 175 spaces; staff concluded the proposal failed the plan‑development standard that the use “would not create a traffic or parking demand incompatible with the existing or proposed facilities to service it.” Mr. Severson, presenting staff’s report, said the applicant’s parking study showed a 113‑space shortfall at certain peak hours and noted proposed shared‑parking agreements mostly carry five‑year terms that city staff and the Common Council previously said should be 20–25 years or permanent easements.
The applicant, represented in public comment by Connor Net of Ford Development Group, told the commission the team had revised drop‑off and circulation plans, reached a revised parking agreement with Sugar River Methodist Church and proposed shared use of nearby hotel lots. Net said the team was coordinating a fence along the shared property line with St. Vincent de Paul and that a five‑year term had been proposed for some agreements while negotiations continued. "We revised the agreements. We have 5 years without termination," Net said during public comment.
Several commissioners said parking remained the overriding unresolved issue. "From the beginning, staff, the planning commission, and the common council have expressed concern over the lack of parking," Mr. Severson said. Commissioner Tushay moved to decline the planned development preliminary and final plan review "based on the advice of city staff." Alder Posey seconded the motion. After discussion about enforcement and lease length, the motion to recommend denial passed 6–1. The commission separately voted 6–1 to recommend denial of the conditional use permit for the event center; that motion was made by Alder Posey and seconded by Commissioner Touche.
During public comment, Verona resident Beth Foss said she supported affordable housing but questioned putting both a large event center and apartments on the same small site and raised practical concerns about reliance on shuttles and remote hotels: "If someone's hosting their wedding reception in there in January ... some of the guests are locals ... I wouldn't be staying at a hotel. So walking in my dress shoes ... one wants to be walking that far or even dealing with a shuttle." Foss also raised bicycle connectivity concerns downtown and asked for stronger bike and pedestrian connections in future planning.
The commission’s recommendation of denial will be transmitted to the Common Council, which will take the final decision. Staff noted the applicant could reapply after one year or sooner if it presents substantial changes — for example, documented, long‑term parking commitments that meet council expectations.
