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Planning commission approves lot consolidation so Monona homeowners can rebuild
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Summary
The Monona Planning Commission voted to approve a certified-survey-map to combine two legal lots at 714 Bartell Street, allowing homeowners Stan and Aaron Howard to rebuild their aging, nonconforming house as a two‑story residence; approval is conditioned on a zoning variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The Monona Planning Commission voted to approve a certified survey map (case 252026) that will consolidate two legal lots at 714 Bartell Street so homeowners Stan and Aaron Howard can remodel and rebuild their residence as a full two‑story house.
The Howards told the commission they bought the property and discovered the structure — built in 1928 — is split across two legal lots. ‘‘My name is Stan Howard,’’ Stan said during the public‑hearing section, describing a small, nonconforming one‑and‑a‑half‑story house he says they need to expand to meet health and ADA needs. Staff reported the lot area is just over 9,200 square feet in a zoning district that lists a 10,000‑square‑foot minimum and explained the proposal requires a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).
Doug (staff) summarized the review: the consulting engineer had no substantive concerns, public works did not require committee review, and staff recommended forwarding approval to city council conditioned on ZBA approval of the lot‑size variance and inclusion of standard surveyor/engineer conditions. Commissioner (speaker 6) moved to approve ‘‘with finding effect and conditions of approval as written by staff,’’ the motion was seconded and the commission approved it by voice.
The approval is procedural: it consolidates the two lots so the applicant may legally rebuild; the action is expressly conditioned on the ZBA granting the necessary variance on the lot‑size requirement. The commission’s decision does not itself waive zoning standards; it advances the application to the next step in the municipal review process. Members who asked questions emphasized sequencing — that the ZBA variance is required before final lot division is recorded.
Next steps: the Howards will pursue the ZBA variance and any required recording of the certified survey map; if the ZBA grants the variance and conditions are met, staff will forward the item to city council for final recording and implementation.
