Fiscal Note
The Planning Division’s 2026 Adopted Operating Budget includes approximately $60,600 for area plan processes within the Purchased Services and Supplies majors expenditure categories, and additional funding for area planning in 2027 is included in the Division’s 2027 Operating Budget request. Beyond staff time, costs associated with plan development, including public participation activities, are included in the Planning Division and other agencies’ operating budgets. City costs associated with eventual implementation of Plan recommendations will be included in future operating and capital budgets subject to Common Council approval. No additional City appropriation required in 2026.
Title
Authorizing the Planning Division to lead the preparation of the Near West Area Plan and Adopting a Public Participation Plan (District 5, District 8, District 10, District 11, District 13, District 14)
Body
WHEREAS, a planning framework with 12 area plans was approved by the Common Council on August 2, 2022 (RES-22-00577, File #71147); and
WHEREAS, RES-25-00455, File #89274, identifies the Near West Area as the seventh area plan to be undertaken; and
WHEREAS, the Near West Area is generally bounded by University Avenue and Lake Mendota to the north, Park Street to the east, Arboretum Drive, Haywood Drive and the Beltline to the south, and Midvale Boulevard to the west (see Exhibit A); and
WHEREAS, there are nine previously adopted City plans that cover portions of the Near West Area: Triangle Monona Bay Neighborhood Plan (2019), University Avenue Corridor Plan (2014), Hoyt Park Area Joint Neighborhood Plan (2014), Midvale Heights/Westmorland: Joint Neighborhood Plan (2009), Greenbush Neighborhood Plan (2008), Regent Street - South Campus Neighborhood Plan (2008), Monroe Street Commercial District Plan (2007), Park Street Corridor Urban Design Guidelines (2004), and Brittingham-Vilas Neighborhood Plan (1989); and
WHEREAS, the Near West Area planning process will include a review of the recommendations in these previously adopted plans for consistency with the scope/level of detail established for area plans, current stakeholder priorities, and adopted citywide plans and policies, such as the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, recommendations in previously adopted plans that are found to be consistent as described above will be considered for incorporation into the Near West Area Plan and previously adopted plans will be archived; and
WHEREAS, the Near West Area Plan will be an interagency effort, with collaboration and contributions from many City of Madison agencies, including but not limited to Parks, Engineering, Community Development, Economic Development, Transportation, Streets, Forestry, Water Utility, Public Health, Fire, and Police; and
WHEREAS, Plan recommendations will focus on guiding changes to the physical aspects of the Near West Area that occur incrementally over decades, such as development initiated by the private sector and infrastructure improvements typically carried out by the public sector; and
WHEREAS, Plan recommendations will be based on public input, the City’s Comprehensive Plan, and other City policies, focusing on issues that are specific to the Near West area; and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin Comprehensive Planning Law (Sec. 66.1001 Wis. Stats.) requires adoption of written procedures fostering public participation since elements of the Near West Area Plan will be integrated into the City’s Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, consistent with the planning framework, the attached Project Scope, Schedule and Public Participation Plan (Exhibit B) emphasizes gathering feedback from areas that include higher percentages of residents from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and those living with lower incomes; and
WHEREAS, the attached Project Scope, Schedule and Public Participation Plan (Exhibit B) outlines anticipated issues and coordination with initiatives that affect the Near West area.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison Planning Division is authorized to lead the preparation of the Near West Area Plan; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the attached Project Scope, Schedule and Public Participation Plan (Exhibit B), which complies with Wisconsin Comprehensive Planning Law (Sec. 66.1001 Wis. Stats.) for amending the City’s Comprehensive Plan, is adopted as a guide that proactively and equitably engages and informs residents, businesses, property owners, and other stakeholders within the Near West Area.