Madison Reporter

The City of Madison’s Planning Division has submitted both the West Area Plan and Northeast Area Plan for approval. These plans are scheduled to be introduced at the Common Council meeting on July 16, 2024.

The Common Council will not make a decision on either plan at the July 16 meeting. Instead, the plans will be referred to several City of Madison Boards, Commissions, and Committees for review, potential changes, and public comment before returning to the Common Council for a final vote.

Members of the public can review the West Area Plan Introduction Draft and the Northeast Area Plan Introduction Draft on Legistar. The Introduction Draft for the West Area Plan includes some notable changes from the Public Review Draft released earlier this year after receiving significant feedback from City staff. Changes include:

- Middleton Street: Recommendation changed from “connect the two segments of Middleton Street along the east border of Stricker’s Pond, in coordination with the City of Middleton” to “preserve the opportunity to connect Middleton Street in the future.”

- Sauk Creek Greenway: Recommendation changed from “During the Sauk Creek Greenway Corridor Plan, use detailed engineering data to design an All Ages and Abilities shared-use path from Brule Circle to Walnut Grove Park through the greenway using environmentally sensitive best practices and minimizing impacts to trees” to “During the Sauk Creek Greenway Corridor Plan, use detailed engineering data to consider the impacts and benefits of adding an All Ages and Abilities shared-use path to make an east-west connection across the greenway to Walnut Grove Park” and “Any All Ages and Abilities path should be designed using environmentally sensitive best practices and minimizing impacts to trees and other vegetation, wildlife habitat, and adjacent properties.”

- Whitney Way and Regent Street: Recommendation for future land use along Merrill Crest Drive changed to Low Residential.

The West Area Plan and Northeast Area Plan are tentatively scheduled for review at various meetings:

- Economic Development Committee: July 17, 2024 (West Area Plan and Northeast Area Plan)

- Transportation Commission: July 31, 2024 (West Area Plan and Northeast Area Plan)

- Community Development Block Grant Committee: August 1, 2024 (Northeast Area Plan)

- Landmarks Commission: August 5, 2024 (West Area Plan and Northeast Area Plan)

- Urban Design Commission: August 14, 2024 (West Area Plan and Northeast Area Plan)

- Board of Parks Commissioners: August 14, 2024 (West Area Plan and Northeast Area Plan)

- Plan Commission: August 26, 2024 (West Area Plan and Northeast Area Plans)

- Common Council: September 10, 2024 (West Area Plans)

Each meeting will allow public comment. Agendas and instructions on how to register for public comment are typically posted one week in advance.

After adoption by both plans by City staff will incorporate any changes approved by the Common Council.

The West Area Plan and Northeast area plans are prepared under Madison's new Planning Framework which established twelve plan areas covering all city regions. The plans guide physical community changes occurring over decades but do not create or require development. They help guide reviews when developments are proposed; proposals following recommendations are likely approved while non-conforming ones face greater scrutiny.

The Planning Division leads area plan development with collaboration from multiple city agencies including Parks Engineering Community Development Economic Development Transportation Traffic Engineering Streets Forestry Water Utility Public Health Fire Police Significant public input shaped recommendations within both plans totaling more than forty meetings since early last year Work begins later this year on Southeast Southwest area plans Learn more about them on Madison’s website