VNA Council Meeting Minutes May 25, 2022

VNA Council Agenda

Wednesday, May 25th, 2022, at 7:00pm – via Zoom 


Term Ending 2022 Term Ending 2023

Sarah Bahauddin- President Rachel Bennett, Treasurer

Ben Blitz Regan Botsford, Secretary

Bonnie Gruber Doug Carlson

Pat Scheckel Wendy Fearnside





7:05    Call to Order

  • Meeting Rules: Stay on mute unless talking.

  • Approval of April Minutes: unanimously approved.

  • Announcements

o   Join the listserv: Send an email to VilasNA+subscribe@groups.io

o   Website: vilasneighborhood.com

o   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vilasna

o   Donations: (Dues no longer required for membership) https://www.vilasneighborhood.com/take-action

 

7:08    Alder Report: Alder Tag Evers presented the following:

  • The Lake Wingra Watershed event was a success (https://www.lakewingra.org/lake-wingra-watershed-gathering )

  • Redistricting has put the Arboretum are in District 13, represented by Alder Tag Evers'.  Tag met with the Arboretum Neighborhood Association (ANA) for the first time last week. We had a successful meeting and talked through many details including the basics: what is an Alder? What do I do? How can I represent their interests to the city? It’s an exciting opportunity to meet with this group.

  • The Vilas Park Master Plan calls for reconstructing Vilas Park Drive. The reconstruction will take place at a future time when funds are available. In the meantime, the Madison Parks and Engineering Divisions have agreed to an interim solution to traffic on the drive, developed in conjunction with a working group involving community members and representatives.  Thanks to Wendy and Ann Rivlin and others who have helped through this process.  For more information:  

  • Metro Transit Network Redesign: 

    • The last public hearing before the Transportation Policy and Planning Board makes its recommendations will take place on May 31.

    • A proposed amendment to the O route would provide access to the Zoo, as called for in the Vilas Park Master Plan, by routing buses along Drake and Randall instead of Mills. In order for this to work, the traffic circle at Randall and Vilas would need to be modified. Residents on Randall are concerned about the impact on traffic and parking. From what Tag understands, Metro believes that this will work.

  • For more information:

  • City Budget.  

    • Tag has recently been appointed to the City's Finance Committee, which makes recommendations for the City's budget.  This is an important committee assignment. With the structural deficit, there is the potential need to make cuts in the operating budget. Tag asked constituents to share with him the kinds of things you want to see in the budget. Email him at district13@cityofmadison.com. He is open to holding a special VNA discussion. 

    • Your assessment directly impacts your property taxes. The city portion is roughly 1/3rd of your property tax bill; the rest is taken by the school district and Madison College. City assessors likely did not capture the full fair market value of your home. Appraisal values likely went up more than the increase in residential assessments.

  • Questions and Discussion

    • Transit Redesign.  Rachel asked whether the new bus route would serve the senior apartment complex on Olin Avenue.  Tag indicated that the new bus service line does go there, but will not go through Bram’s addition and the Capitol neighborhood. This is a concern for District 14. Tag suggested people push transit planners to see if there’s anything they can do to add access to those neighborhoods.

    • Transit Oriented Development Overlay.  

  • Wendy mentioned that the Plan Commission will have a working meeting on the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) overlay-and take public comment on June 23. https://www.cityofmadison.com/dpced/planning/transit-oriented-development/3792/

  • Transit Redesign will be approved before the overlay. Transit Redesign was motivated out of equity concerns. The TOD Overlay incentivizes the city to grow the way it should, by concentrating higher density development along high service transit corridors. It also lets families get along with one car instead of two.

  • It has been proposed, but not decided, to allow property owners to turn their homes into duplexes. If we value diversity and inclusion we must be thinking about that kind of inclusion. This is one way to make it possible to accommodate more affordable housing in the neighborhood and for people who want to live in your neighborhood but can’t afford it now, to live there. https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/city-creating-transit-oriented-development-zoning

  • Sarah observed that one of the things about our neighborhood is the proximity to campus. Is there any consideration about how that fits into the picture?

  • Wendy noted that about half of the Vilas area is currently zoned to allow duplexes and triplexes. The overlay district would increase the number of unrelated occupants permitted from 4 to 5 people.  

  • Ben asked whether the City can also start enforcing the regulations that currently exist. Occupancy maximums are not being enforced, and that is more of a problem than the number of people allowed.

  • Folks in Bay Creek have expressed some concerns. 

  • Transit Network Redesign.  

  • Wendy: There is a lost opportunity in that some routes, including the one serving Monroe St., cross the Isthmus without going around square and, therefore, don't connect with Bus Rapid Transit.  Creating an opportunity to transfer to BRT would be ideal. 

  • Transit routes will change over time- they are going to be looking at usage, responding to demand. Tag is very impressed with staff's commitment and desire to come up with positive outcomes and a transit system that people want to use.

  • Ben: The proposed bus route on Randall will create increased pressure near the Randall/Regent intersection. Regent needs some TLC.  The alley entrance onto Randall south of Regent gets so backed up, he can’t sometimes get out. Something that needs to be brought up. When Lucky’s redevelopment is finished, it will add more traffic.

  • District 13 Alliance.  The Arboretum neighborhood was extended an invitation to join the D13 alliance. Tag told them about the Good Neighborhood Gathering. Invitations were also extended to Monona, Triangle and Bayview. 

  • Food scraps recycling update: https://www.cityofmadison.com/council/district13/blog/?Id=26396

  • You can always contact Tag via phone or email: (608) 424-2580 or district13@cityofmadison.com

 

7:20    Existing Business

  • Social Report: Sarah Bahauddin for Bethany Nelson

    • VNA Book Club meets May 26th to discuss Janesville by Amy Goldstein. The meeting will be in person on Sarah’s porch for the first time.  Sarah will lead.

  • Vilas Summer Party: June 11th,4-9:30 pm, in the 1900 Block of Jefferson St. (lead-Pat).  A reminder and flyer will be distributed soon.

  • Treasurer’s Report:  Rachel Bennett

  • At this point in time we are $524 in the black for the year. 

  • A total of $737 in dues has been received.

  • Our bank account balance is $5,298.  Regan will help to set up PayPal QR code for upcoming events.

  • Suggestion to decorate a shoebox for donations at the June 11 summer party. 

  • Vilas Ink: Pat Scheckel. Articles due on May 27.

  • Zoning Committee: Ben Biltz and Wendy Fearnside

  • Impact of the proposed Transit Oriented Development Overlay District on Vilas neighborhood

  • The Overlay District will allow greater heights and more density in some parts of the Vilas Neighborhood. 

  • Most of the presidential street and Bear Mound areas will not be affected because they are in a National Historic District that is exempt from the TOD overlay district. 

  • The residential area from Garfield to Regent, most of that north of Bear Mound are included in the overlay district and will have zoning changes allowing greater density.  The maximum number of dwelling units in the principal building would be increased from 3 to 4, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) would be permitted even where the principal building is not a single family dwelling. Occupancy changes would allow up to 5 renters per dwelling unit.  Building height requirements would not change.

  • The Traditional Shopping Street (TSS) district along Monroe, the Overlay zoning would increase the maximum height from 3 to 4 stories and the maximum number of dwelling units in mixed use buildings from 48 to 60 without a conditional use permit.  

  • How future development is coordinated with the comprehensive plan and new district plans-will be an issue. A district plan for the Near West Side area that includes Vilas has not been scheduled and will not be developed for several years.

  • Some of the areas will be more affected than others, especially those currently zoned for single family homes which fall within the TOD overlay district where multifamily units are allowed.  Cities need to appeal to home owners, too. 

  • For more information see https://www.cityofmadison.com/dpced/planning/transit-oriented-development/3792/ and https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6055ac8436984cc39cb738be2fb4d71e.

  • The TOD Overlay District is not set policy yet. The Plan Commission will make a recommendation and the Common Council has final approval. The Plan Commission has had three working meetings so far and will have a public hearing at its meeting on June 23, which is before the next VNA Council meeting. If we want to have input, we’ll have to take it to the Zoning Committee.

  • Something that we might want to coordinate with neighboring associations. 

  • The Zoning committee will analyze the issue in greater depth and take stab at developing a draft position for the Council.  If the Council is not ready to take a position, the information can be shared with the neighborhood via the listserv. 

  • The City is getting rid of other types of zoning overlay districts in some neighborhoods.

  • Streatery Program extension.  Sconnie Bar on Regent St. has applied to continue its outdoor eating area under this program.  Ben and Hans Borcherding live nearby and neither is aware of any problems created so far.  There is no reason for VNA to oppose.

  • HotelRed Ben reached out to Steve Brown with Hotel Red, which is now being remodeled as renamed Stadium Lofts. They are on track for residents to move in on August 1 and are in discussions with potential users for the commercial space on the first floor. 

  • District-13 Alliance – Dana Scheckel and Sarah Bahauddin. 

  • Save the Date for the Good Neighbor Gathering on September 11th.  Planning on more kid friendly event. 

  • Donations can be made to https://www.dmna.org/GNG2022.

  • JCAC: Doug Carlson (No report)

  • Edgewood Liaison Committee: Sarah Bahauddin, Shawn Doherty, and Craig Stanley (No report)

  • Zoo Liaison Committee Report: Bonnie Gruber and Ann Rivlin

    • Community members include Ann and Bonnie from Vilas, and Jim Lorman and Cindy from Greenbush. 

    • (Group had its first meeting and will meet monthly through the summer.

    • Zoo representative want to get information out regarding their upcoming public events. Whether the Zoo should mail directly to the neighborhood association listservs or go through the liaisons and issue.  Council members agreed that the email communications should be sent to the Council representatives for distribution to their respective listservs. 

    • Parking seems to be biggest issue. 

    • A professional planning consultant is working on facilities plan for part of the zoo. Western end, giraffe, rhino and big cat areas and the surrounding area. It looks like a decent plan so far.) *redacted as a result of decision of June 2022 minutes.

    • Stay posted for news about baby orangutan.

    • Please contact Bonnie or Ann if you’d like more details or have anything you want us to tell Zoo management. 

 

7:50    Other Business:

Adjourn: Meeting ended at 8:22

Upcoming Meetings:  June 22, July 27, Aug 24, Sept 28, Oct 26, Nov 16*, and Dec 14*

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