Madison Plan Commission approves consent agenda, refers Verona Road project to June 9 meeting

The Madison Plan Commission met virtually on May 19, 2025, and approved its consent agenda, which included a conditional use for an outdoor eating area at 709–711 East Johnson Street and a certified survey map to reconfigure two lots at 3895 and 3897 Vilas Hope Road in the Town of Cottage Grove. The commission also voted to refer a proposed five-story mixed-use project at 4506–4514 Verona Road to the commission's June 9 meeting for more public input and staff review.

The consent agenda passed without objection. Chair Gnaub closed the public hearing and announced, "Seeing none, the consent agenda passes unanimously." The referral of the Verona Road application was part of the consent package; staff said there were many registrants on that item and that any comments submitted for tonight will remain in the record and be considered at the June 9 meeting.

Nut graf: The actions affect near-term development and land-use reviews across multiple neighborhoods. Two items were approved administratively on consent, while a larger, contested mixed-use housing proposal on Verona Road was deferred so the commission can hold a separate public hearing and review additional materials.

The commission approved minutes from its May 12 meeting and then moved to the consent agenda. Item details read into the record by staff identified the consent items as follows: Legistar #83269 (709–711 East Johnson Street, Alder District 6) — a conditional use in a neighborhood mixed-use district to permit an outdoor eating area open past 9 p.m.; Legistar #87879 (4506–4514 Verona Road, Alder District 10) — a conditional-use application for a commercial center district to allow dwelling units in a proposed five-story mixed-use building (application materials indicate 93 apartments; the application lists a commercial area but a square-foot figure in the transcript packet was unclear and is not specified here); and Legistar #87880 (3895 and 3897 Vilas Hope Road, Town of Cottage Grove) — a certified survey map within the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction to reconfigure two existing lots.

Director Megan Tuttle told the commission that written comments already submitted for the Verona Road item "will still be part of the record for the meeting on June 9," and she reminded interested members of the public that registration will reopen for the June 9 meeting on Thursday, June 5. Tuttle also previewed several items anticipated for the June 9 agenda, including zoning code amendments, a project in the 3500 block of University Avenue, a project in the 700 block of North Meadow, initial proposals from the Starkweather plat on Milwaukee Avenue, and an assisted-living conversion to a community living arrangement on Jupiter Drive.

The commission noted a special in-person meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 2 in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building; regular June and July meetings will remain virtual at 5:30 p.m. The commission recorded no public comment on items not on the agenda during tonight's open public-comment period.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes (May 12, 2025): Motion to approve made by Alder Field, seconded by Commissioner Heck; outcome: approved unanimously (no objections recorded). - Consent agenda: Motion to approve made by Alder Field, seconded by Commissioner Mendez; outcome: approved unanimously. Items approved on consent: Legistar #83269 (709–711 East Johnson Street — conditional use for outdoor eating past 9 p.m.); Legistar #87880 (3895 & 3897 Vilas Hope Road — certified survey map). Item referred: Legistar #87879 (4506–4514 Verona Road — referred to June 9, 2025).

Discussion vs. decision: The Verona Road project drew multiple registrants and was not discussed on the merits at this meeting; the commission directed that the item be scheduled for a full hearing at its June 9 meeting. The approved consent items were recommended by staff and accepted with conditions listed in department review materials; no speakers registered in opposition to the consent items during tonight's hearing.

The meeting lasted a short time and was largely procedural. The commission and staff encouraged members of the public who registered for the Verona Road item tonight to re-register for June 9. Director Tuttle reiterated: "So just reiterating for any members of the public who are still here tonight, any discussion related to that project will happen at the June 9 meeting."