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Planning commission recommends keeping parcels R90 after residents voice traffic and character concerns
Summary
After extensive public comment opposing a rezoning request from R90 to R60, the Planning Commission voted to recommend the City Commission retain R90 single-family zoning for the three parcels; residents cited safety, single-entry access and neighborhood character as key objections.
The Madison Planning Commission on March 10 recommended that the City Commission keep three parcels zoned R90 (single-family) after a contested public hearing on a developer's request to rezone them to R60 (duplex/twin-home).
Applicant Steven Peterson sought to rezone about 4.5 acres made up of three parcels so the land could be platted into smaller lots (minimum ~6,000 square feet) and allow townhomes or twin homes as principal permitted uses. Planning staff told the commission the change would modestly increase residential density but that the adopted comprehensive plan (April 2022) designates the area for low-density residential (R90). Staff also reported several written letters from nearby residents opposing any increase in density.
More than a half-dozen nearby residents spoke at the hearing with consistent concerns. Nick Bird, who lives nearby, said he favored leaving the area R90 to preserve safety and limit traffic: "I feel like if we're bringing in townhomes, there's going to be more traffic," he said, adding that his neighborhood has a single entry and that increased units would strain the only exit route. Other speakers, including John Nelson and Janice Staling, emphasized the neighborhood's character and the presence of many children who play in the dead-end streets.
Developers and an agent pushed back at the hearing, saying the rezoning would not create apartment complexes and that sewer configuration and lot geometry already constrain single-family development. The engineering staff explained that whether the street layout ultimately connects Fifth to Third or loops Fourth to Fifth would be a separate subdivision and platting decision and that a second exit is required by subdivision regulations if development exceeds certain lengths.
After closing the public comment period, the commission held a roll-call vote and voted to recommend keeping the existing R90 designation; the staff and several commissioners said the City Commission will consider the recommendation at its next meeting on Monday.
