Council hears developer presentation, raises landscaping, traffic and park-design questions on West Broadway Phase 1 PIP

City of Manona elected officials and developer representatives spent the bulk of the June 1 council meeting focused on the West Broadway Phase 1 public improvement plan (PIP), a large mixed‑use project brought forward by Gway Companies with design work by JLA.

Mayor Nancy Moore opened the discussion by noting the plan commission recommendation and the absence of Director Plowman for the meeting; councilors asked the present developer team to highlight substantive changes since the general development plan. Brian Homequist, chair of the Plan Commission, told the council the commission approved the PIP with one no vote, and that the dissent centered on landscaping point shortfalls tied to parking‑based calculations and how park acreage is allocated between phases.

Jennifer, a JLA representative, walked the council through the packet visuals and 3‑D elevations, showing where brick and other materials would appear and explaining adjustments made in response to prior comments. "You'll see in purple where the brick is" she said while calling out reduced use of the 'arctic white' treatment on the southern façade to break up continuous walls. The development team said it would return to the Plan Commission with a dumpster enclosure design that matches the primary materials.

Councilors pressed for specifics on commercial square footage and phasing. Brian Homequist said building A1 in phase one will contain just over 13,000 square feet of commercial space — down from 16,000 cited earlier — and that the total across phases A1 and A2 remains targeted at roughly 26,000 square feet across the full project, with phase‑one commercial reduced by about 3,000 square feet.

Traffic and public‑space layout were a central concern. Staff and the developer reported the traffic impact analysis (TIA) was satisfied but that one east–west entry will be realigned roughly 100 feet west to create a cleaner north–south/east–west intersection and remove a problematic cul‑de‑sac entrance. The realignment, the team said, reduces confusing circulation through the park area and provides space for off‑street parking to support commercial uses and some park overflow.

Council members also asked that pedestrian safety be prioritized at the new intersection. Alder Rick Bernstein urged the city to consider a marked crosswalk where the new road meets West Broadway, and Doug Wood asked staff to emphasize bicycle connections during public‑works design. Randy Kolinsky, from the developer team, told the council a crosswalk on West Broadway is planned.

On park ownership and design, the developer team said the Monona Commons Park parcel will be dedicated to the city and that the city will lead the park’s design and any hiring of landscape architects. The developer confirmed it is dedicating the land and paying land‑dedication fees; the fee amount discussed at the meeting was "about a million dollars." The council and development team said they expect coordination so park improvements can align with phase‑one infrastructure.

Sustainability topics arose when councilors asked about rooftop solar for the new buildings. Developers noted the city cannot require solar for private development and said that, in their assessment, current economics had made rooftop solar less attractive for the project developer (though the team said they would consider rough‑in conduit and other measures).

The PIP will return to the council for a second reading in two weeks, with Director Plowman expected to attend. Several minor materials items — including a dumpster enclosure and a few masonry details — will return to the Plan Commission for final sign‑off before the project advances.