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Plan Commission approves 91-unit mixed-use building and social‑service office at East Washington and Ridgeway
Summary
The Plan Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit recommendation and a certified survey map enabling a five‑story, 91‑unit mixed‑use building with an on-site human services office at 3222–3238 E. Washington Ave.; the developer and Lutheran Social Services said the social‑service space will be staffed.
The City of Madison Plan Commission on Oct. 20 recommended approval of a conditional use permit to allow construction of a five‑story mixed‑use building with 91 apartments and a street‑facing office for human services programs at 3222–3238 East Washington Avenue and 3229 Ridgeway Avenue in Alder District 12, and forwarded a certified survey map creating the parcel to the Common Council.
Planning staff (Colin Pott) told commissioners the building will read as five stories along East Washington but steps down to three stories along Ridgeway because of roughly 20 feet of grade change across the site. The project includes an internal courtyard, substantial underground parking, and a roughly 340‑square‑foot office space intended for on‑site social services.
Architect Matt Tills and the development team presented the design and said the project is targeted as senior affordable housing, with a mix of one‑ and two‑bedroom units, underground parking accessed from East Washington and Carpenter Street, and a landscaped elevated courtyard.
The Urban Design Commission granted final approval with conditions before the Plan Commission hearing. Staff emphasized that the applicant is required to complete a traffic study and technical stormwater measures. Project engineer Chris Dawson said the stormwater approach will rely on a mix of subterranean treatment devices, detention/infiltration features and green‑roof strategies.
During the hearing Commissioner Heck proposed and the commission added a nonbinding but recommended condition asking the applicant to explore shifting more bicycle parking to the upper parking level; commissioners discussed pedestrian and bicycle access from East Washington and Carpenter Street and the steepness of adjacent streets.
Travis Fochold of the Volker Group said Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan is committed as the on‑site social‑service provider and a development partner; the developer said the space will be staffed regularly rather than only a drop‑in room. The applicant also told commissioners the traffic study is underway.
The Plan Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the conditional use (Legistar 89774) and to forward the certified survey map (Legistar 24479) to the Common Council, both subject to staff conditions and the additional bicycle‑parking exploration recommended by the commission.
Votes at a glance
- Conditional use for a five‑story mixed‑use building with 91 apartments and a human‑service office (Legistar 89774): recommended for approval to Common Council; unanimous vote at Plan Commission. - Certified survey map to create the parcel (Legistar 24479): recommended for approval to Common Council; unanimous vote at Plan Commission.
