The Madison Plan Commission on Dec. 1 voted 6–2 to approve conditional‑use permits for a proposed 16‑story, car‑free apartment building at 139 West Wilson Street, concluding a months‑long review that focused on whether the proposal’s driveway, short‑term loading area and management plan would prevent spillover onto the cycle track and public street.

City staff and the applicant said the development team submitted revised materials addressing prior referrals from the commission. Applicant Doug Paul described changes intended to respond to commission comments: "We moved the manager's office to the first floor," he said, adding the office would have line‑of‑sight to a short‑term loading area and closed‑circuit camera visibility over the covered drive. The team also reconfigured the trash room (a chute and compactor) and relocated bicycle parking to courtyard areas.

Neighborhood representatives urged denial. Peter Ostlund said the applicant has not demonstrated that delivery and service vehicles can turn around in the proposed driveway: "The applicant has not shown what they say will actually happen," he said, arguing that the maneuvering diagrams relied on a Mercedes Sprinter van and did not demonstrate feasibility for larger UPS or refuse trucks. Jonathan Cooper, speaking for the neighborhood association, criticized the management plan as "long on promises and short on detail," and said the site will generate deliveries, move‑ins and service calls that cannot be reliably managed by a two‑person onsite team.

Commissioners pressed the applicants on staffing and operations. The applicants said trash pickup frequency is expected to be twice weekly based on the compactor design, and that vendors requiring long service stalls would be scheduled with a short‑term permit. Traffic engineering staff reviewed the updated plans and judged the driveway tight but not unworkable.

Alder Ugar moved that the commission find the applicable conditional‑use standards (including standards 3 and 5 related to safety and operations) were met, subject to the conditions in the Nov. 3 staff report and the Dec. 1 addendum. The motion included two added items: that the first‑floor manager office include glazing with a clear view to the bicycle path and that the city engineering and traffic engineering review plan elements that affect the cycle track and right‑of‑way. The motion carried by roll call, 6 ayes and 2 noes.

What was emphasized: Supporters of the project stressed the novel auto‑free model and potential for dense, affordable housing downtown; opponents focused on operational realism and safety for pedestrians and cyclists on Wilson Street, arguing a design that relies primarily on managerial enforcement is insufficient if the driveway cannot physically accommodate larger trucks.

Next steps: The approval is conditional on final engineering and an approved management plan; staff recommended several supplemental conditions to be resolved in final site plan and permit review. The commission retained continuing jurisdiction over the conditional‑use permit for compliance.

Quote: "We moved the manager's office to the first floor...they would have closed circuit camera visibility of the covered area," said applicant Doug Paul about revisions to the building’s street‑level operations.

Votes and action: Conditional‑use approval for the 16‑story building at 139 W. Wilson — motion passed by roll call 6–2.