Council approves fiscal plan for two voluntary annexations; public hearing set for Aug. 4

The City of Madison Common Council on July 21 introduced two voluntary annexation ordinances and adopted the fiscal plan required before those annexations can move forward.

At first reading the council described ordinance 20-26-13c (Madison Woods) and ordinance 20-26-14c (Kaler Farms). A staff presentation said the Madison Woods territory covers 23.16 acres and Kaler Farms covers about 80.54 acres. A developer representative told the council Madison Woods could eventually include roughly 175 lots and as many as 300 apartments across multiple phases; Kaler Farms was modeled at about 60–75 lots. The projects’ proponents said the developments would include single-family homes, patio homes, duplexes, townhomes and market-rate apartments to serve a range of incomes.

Attorney Hunt Reynolds, who addressed process questions at the meeting, described both measures as "super voluntary" annexations — noting that 100% of affected property owners in the annexation areas submitted petitions. Reynolds said the ordinances meet applicable state statutes and the congruity requirement and outlined the schedule: a public hearing for both ordinances is set for Aug. 4 and, by state law, adoption could occur no earlier than 14 days after that hearing (Aug. 18 or later). Reynolds also explained that, following adoption, a 30-day statutory appeal period would begin on publication of the adoption notice.

Mickey Bell of Reedy Financial Group presented the fiscal plan prepared for the annexations and summarized its findings: because the properties are largely vacant or in agricultural status today, the city does not anticipate incurring net costs from the annexations under current assumptions. Bell reported small estimated impacts to township fire revenue that appear in the plan as "approximately $50" for Madison Woods and "approximately $63" for Kaler Farms, as shown in the materials provided to council.

Councilor Josh Schafer, the sponsor identified in the record, said the annexations are part of a broader housing strategy intended to expand housing options and the city’s property tax base. He and other council members said phased development would help integrate new units into the local market.

On a roll-call vote to adopt Resolution 20-26-8c (the written fiscal plan and definite policies), the council voted to approve the plan with five members voting yes and one abstaining. Councilor Lucy Duttillo abstained, saying she had not reviewed the materials in advance; one member was absent. The public hearing remains scheduled for Aug. 4 as the next procedural step.

The developer and city staff said they will provide final fiscal-documents and a clean presentation copy to the council before the hearing.