posted December 14, 2023 – 9:30 pm
Hello from our District 10 – Alder Figueroa Cole
Thank you for the input on this project. I met with staff this week to seek answers for the questions received thus far. I am sharing links to the ordinances and approval standards for your review. This project thus far will need to follow conditional uses based on Height & Size. The developer will also need to apply for a demolition permit. The design shared is just the first take, we will see changes and I will continue to share as changes become available.
These are just some of the few agencies that review the project and provide input to Commissions and Council:
Planning Division >> Zoning Administrator >> City Engineering Division
Traffic Engineering Division >> Fire Department
Parks Division >> Water Utility >> Metro Transit
| ………………………………………………………………………………………. | ………………………………………………………………………………………. |
| Project / Topics Related to questions received | Conditional Use and Resources |
| The Area Plan calls for a multi-use site with floor area developed for retail uses.Land Use Classification: GC: – General Commercial Note: This lot is included in the current West Area Plan assessment. However, this project is expected to be submitted to staff before the West Area Plan is approved by Council. |  Future Land Use: GC – General CommercialUse this link to learn about future land use projections based on approved comprehensive and area plans |
| CC-T Zoning District Commercial Corridor – Transitional |  Zoning Map: Use this map to find the zoning information of properties around the City |
| Project: ~9,500 SF First floor retail rented as:one large tenant or subdivided into up to four smaller tenants with shared common space. | List of Potential uses Includes permitted and conditional use.The approval standards don’t have the purview to require the applicant to have specific business types as a condition for approval. The Zoning Code only lists the potential businesses that could occupy the space. Any business in the table classified with a “C” means that the business will also have to come before the Plan Commission for a conditional use approval. |
| Project: Height – 7 Stories (Requires Conditional Use) | Maximum Height is 5 Stories by Right  Conditional Use link to Chapter 28.183 – CONDITIONAL USES ordinance28.067 – COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR – TRANSITIONAL DISTRICT. |
| Project: Fifty-Five apartment units including Studios, 1 Bedrooms, and 2 Bedrooms. Second floor and seventh floor amenity spaces including a fitness room, clubroom, and a rooftop patio space. Dwelling Units in a Mixed Unit Building in the CC-T Zoning District (Requires Conditional Use) |  Residential – Family LivingChapter 28.061 MIXED-USE AND COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS USES. |
| Demolition of Restaurant/Historic District | Not in a Historic District, Landmarks will report on the historic relevance of the existing building as part of the demolition permit review. |
| Design Specs: Setbacks, foot traffic, Steps to access business | To accommodate ground parking access with a short distance and slop on the back of the building, the front brick wall was raised 3-4 ft from the ground. However, UDC may have suggestions on dealing with underground vehicle parking. Potential design changes may lower the building and may allow a better design for the front business accessibility. CC-T zoning also specifies that the bottom cell of the windows must be within 3 feet of the grade. More design information to be presented at UDC in January. |
| Design Specs: The stairs/9 Steps | A site plan with dimensions has not been presented to staff, preliminary discussions between staff and applicant indicate a potential setback from the street to accommodate a minimum width of 8ft terrace & 5 feet sidewalk. Requirement applies to both sides of the street. |
| Design Specs: Open Spaces | For a mixed-used development roof decks, porches, and balconies may be used to meet up to seventy-five percent (75%) of the minimum open space requirements, see specifications in Chapter 28.140 – USABLE OPEN SPACE. |
| About Electric Cars charging stations |  EV Charging Stations are part of these Chapter, scroll down to section 8 of 28.141 – PARKING AND LOADING STANDARDS |
Parking Minimums: There will be 38 surface stalls and 43 secure underground parking spaces (81 total). | “The CC-T District is established to recognize the many commercial corridors within the City that remain largely auto-oriented, and to encourage their transformation into mixed-use corridors that are equally conducive to pedestrian, bicycle, transit and motor vehicle activity.”As the city moves towards a robust transit system and the decentralization of vehicles, parking is one of those things that rightfully is scrutinized. I will support this parking level since Hammersley hosts multiple high-density buildings. But this building is on Metro’s routes, near the Southwest Commuter Path; parks and other amenities are within walking distance. To learn more about Complete Streets:https://www.cityofmadison.com/transportation/initiatives/complete-green-streets |
| Metro Stop | Required by Metro and included in the building design |
| Public Access to the Strip Mall from the second driveway behind the current restaurant. | Determine if an egress exists to allow back entry to be of public access. Engineering will review the dimensions, turn movements and the driveway route as well as determine if easements need to be established before issuing permits. |
| Entrance to the Strip Mall from Midvale/Verona Road | DOT controls the frontage road, and the intersection is removed from the parcel. Traffic engineering & DOT feedback will be needed to facilitate changes conducive to facilitating a safe access point. |
| Future Business Tenants | List of Potential uses There are no standards of approval to pre-define what business comes to the site. A list of approved or conditional use is listed in the code. The Plan Commission may consider putting conditions based on overdue taxes and/or fees, the applicant’s history of compliance with relevant ordinances and approvals, building and minimum housing code, zoning code and zoning approvals, alcohol license provisions and approvals. But cannot put a condition to build a coffee shop or grocery store in the retail portion of the building. |
*Reviewed by Urban Design: Developer presents at UDC committee at least twice. The first meeting is a review of the plans, UDC provides recommendations. Second and future meetings are for developer to present the design changes and for UDC to make recommendations to Plan Commission. Last meeting may take place after PC or Council decisions.
