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6 days ago

Madison staff say city is about halfway to 15,000-home target as affordable-unit work continues City planning officials told the Plan Commission the Housing Forward initiative is seeking to create 15,000 homes by 2030; since Jan. 1, 2025 the tracker shows 2,800 completed homes and 4,739 under construction, while staff highlighted land-banking, TIF and the Affordable Housing Fund to preserve affordability.

Madison is making strides toward its ambitious goal of 15,000 new homes by 2030, but officials warn that innovative financing and zoning changes are crucial to ensure affordability for all.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #UrbanDevelopment #CitizenPortal #AffordableHousing

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1 month ago

Commission reviews Regent Street preferred design; staff told to prioritize pedestrian crossings and off-street bike connections City staff presented a preferred "community main street" design for Regent Street aimed at wider sidewalks, midblock bump-outs, parking as a pedestrian buffer and accommodations for emergency access. Commissioners supported the overall direction but pressed staff for stronger crossing treatments, clearer delivery/curb-management plans and the best off-street bike connections to the Southwest Path.

Madison is transforming Regent Street into a vibrant community hub with wider sidewalks and improved pedestrian safety, but will it meet the needs of cyclists too?

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #MadisonCommunity #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #CommunityDesign #TransportationPlanning

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1 month ago

Madison residents urge safer street design after pedestrian death, citing Park and South Park corridors Public commenters at the March 4 Madison Transportation Commission meeting urged immediate safety upgrades on Park and South Park streets after the February death of Sasha Rosen, calling for lane reductions, raised crosswalks and design changes that prioritize pedestrians over vehicle throughput.

Madison residents are demanding urgent action for safer streets after a tragic pedestrian death, citing alarming patterns of accidents and the need for design changes that prioritize safety over speed.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #TrafficCalming

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1 month ago

Plan Commission forwards certified survey map to council to combine parcels at Pennsylvania Avenue The commission recommended approval and forwarded a certified survey map to the Common Council to combine multiple parcels on Pennsylvania Avenue (1902 E. Johnson St. and 20102030 Pennsylvania Ave) to enable a future mixed-use multifamily development; environmental and DNR requirements remain in place.

The Madison Plan Commission has taken a significant step toward transforming a key area into a vibrant mixed-use development by combining multiple parcels for a future multifamily project.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #MadisonDevelopment #EnvironmentalSustainability #CommunityFocus

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1 month ago

Plan Commission approves removal of rooftop solar from UW HealthUniversity Row parking design The commission approved an alteration to the University Row plan development allowing UW Health to drop a rooftop solar canopy from a new parking structure, citing changed financial feasibility; vote passed with one commissioner recorded as voting no.

The Madison Plan Commission has approved a controversial decision to remove a rooftop solar canopy from UW Health's new parking structure, sparking debate over environmental commitments and economic realities.

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1 month ago

Madison council hears police's fourth-quarter report showing declines in several crime categories; alderquestions focus on detox, overdoses and data breakdowns Madison's police chief presented a fourth-quarter 2025 report showing decreases in shots-fired incidents, overdoses and property crimes compared with a three-year average; alderpersons pressed the department for updates on downtown detox capacity, overdose fatalities and more granular offense and geography breakdowns. No formal council action was taken on the report.

Madison's police chief revealed a promising 24% drop in shots fired and a significant decrease in property crimes, but pressing questions about overdose fatalities and detox services highlight ongoing public safety challenges.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CitizenPortal #DataDriven

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1 month ago

Committee Approves Affordable‑Housing Awards Including First‑time Ho‑Chunk Participation The Finance Committee unanimously approved awards from multiple funding sources to develop up to 27 affordable owner‑occupied units, fund five homeownership programs and sell 10 city lots; Director O'Keefe said this is the first application from the Ho‑Chunk Nation for these funds.

The Finance Committee just greenlit a groundbreaking initiative to create 27 affordable homes, marking the Ho-Chunk Nation's first-ever application for these vital funds!

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CitizenPortal #HousingInnovation #CommunityDevelopment #EconomicAccessibility

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1 month ago

Madison panel approves 6‑story, 130‑unit senior affordable building at 437 S. Yellowstone The Madison Plan Commission unanimously approved a conditional use allowing a six‑story, 130‑unit age‑ and income‑restricted mixed‑use building at 437 S. Yellowstone Drive (Odana Heights). Developers said the project will include 173 parking stalls, 650 sq ft of commercial space and is pursuing WEDA tax credits; worker advocates raised past unpaid‑wage concerns tied to a subcontractor, and the developer described steps taken to address them.

The Madison Plan Commission just greenlit a six-story affordable senior housing project, but concerns about past labor issues linger.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #MadisonSeniorHousing #CitizenPortal #AffordableHousing #CommunityDevelopment #WorkerJustice

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1 month ago

Finance Committee OKs $100,000 Loan for Jake’s Place First‑floor Improvements The Finance Committee unanimously approved a Community Facilities Loan of up to $100,000 to Tulareen Incorporated to support first‑floor improvements at Jake’s Place, which currently houses expanded case‑management services; plans for a 10‑bed withdrawal management unit upstairs remain contingent on licensure and funding.

The City of Madison just approved a $100,000 loan to enhance Jake’s Place, paving the way for vital community services and future detox support!

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CitizenPortal #HealthServices #CommunitySupport #SubstanceAbuse #MadisonCaseManagement

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1 month ago

Madison transportation staff and community press for short-term fixes and long-term redesign after Park Street pedestrian death In a packed Transportation Commission meeting, city staff outlined Vision 0 work and a federally funded Bus Rapid Transit-driven Park Street reconstruction while family members and residents demanded immediate traffic-calming pilots, stronger enforcement and quicker action after the Feb. 5 death of 17-year-old Sasha Rosen.

Madison's community is demanding urgent action to combat reckless driving after the tragic death of 17-year-old Sasha Rosen, pushing for immediate traffic calming measures and a safer future for all.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #TrafficCalming

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1 month ago

Madison committee debates shrinking Common Council, focuses on resources and 3-1-1 update Madison’s Executive Committee discussed a proposal to reduce the Common Council from 20 members to a smaller odd-numbered body, but members did not vote and instead asked staff for research on 311, population projections, and examples from comparable cities.

Madison's Common Council is considering a controversial proposal to shrink from 20 members to as few as 10, raising questions about representation and workload.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CivicAccountability #DiversityInclusion #CitizenPortal #LocalGovResources #MadisonCommonCouncil

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2 months ago

Public Health Madison Dane County details place-based violence-prevention work, early outcome metrics Public Health Madison Dane County told the Common Council it is expanding cross-agency, place-based violence-prevention work and tracking intermediate outcomes: 159 outreach interactions, 108 people engaged and 68% of served clients had no new justice involvement since December 2024.

Public Health Madison Dane County is revolutionizing violence prevention with a data-driven, collaborative approach that shows promising early results—could this be the key to safer communities?

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #SafetyInitiatives #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal

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2 months ago

Madison police present year-end drops in several crime categories and outline new unit-based investigative model Madison Police briefed the council on its stratified-policing model, reported year-end decreases (shots fired, burglaries, stolen autos, thefts from autos) compared with a three-year average, and described a 2025 shift to unit-based investigations with an evaluation planned for Q3.

Madison Police are seeing significant crime drops thanks to a new data-driven approach, with plans for an innovative unit-based investigative model on the horizon.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CivicAccountability #MadisonPolice #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #CommunityPrevention

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2 months ago

CARES teams expand demand as Madison Fire tells council about non‑police crisis responses Madison Fire's CARES program reported steady growth in calls and clients since 2021, handled roughly 12,000 calls and more than 7,000 unique clients to date, and is piloting regional service in Sun Prairie while tracking unmet requests to decide future expansion.

Madison's CARES program is rapidly expanding to meet the rising demand for non-police crisis responses, having already handled over 12,000 calls since its inception!

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CitizenPortal #CrisisResponse #MentalHealthAccess #CommunitySupport #MadisonCARES

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2 months ago

Traffic engineering reports Vision Zero progress; city fatalities on municipal roadways fall 50% since 2020 Traffic Engineering updated council on Vision Zero initiatives, Safe Streets Madison projects and a city rollout of '20 is Plenty'; city-controlled roadway fatalities declined from 12 in 2020 to 6 in 2025, and more than 237 safety projects have been funded through the new program.

Madison's Vision Zero initiative is making streets safer, with a stunning 50% drop in fatalities since 2020 and over 600 safety projects in the works!

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CommunityEngagement #TrafficSafety #CitizenPortal #MadisonSafeStreets #VisionZero

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2 months ago

Madison council adopts resolution to allow recouping extraordinary mutual-aid costs, adds report-back requirement The council unanimously adopted a resolution (Item 73) creating procedures under state law to seek reimbursement for extraordinary mutual-aid costs and added an amendment requiring the police chief to report on interagency discussions in the second-quarter report of 2026; public speakers warned such a policy could chill mutual aid.

Madison's Common Council just passed a controversial resolution to charge neighboring municipalities for mutual aid costs—raising concerns about the future of community cooperation during emergencies.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CommunityCooperation #MadisonMutualAid

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2 months ago

Madison council adopts 12-month moratorium on large data centers to study local impacts The Madison Common Council on Jan. 13 adopted a temporary, 12-month moratorium on zoning approvals for data centers and telecommunication centers larger than 10,000 square feet to allow staff to research energy, water and land-use impacts and draft long-term regulations.

Madison's Common Council just hit pause on big data centers for a full year to study their impact—could this reshape the future of tech in the city?

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #SustainabilityPolicy #EconomicDevelopment #CitizenPortal #MadisonZoning #UtilityImpact

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3 months ago

City advances Cannonball Path Phase 6 design; Fish Hatchery shared path and Wingra Creek bridge proposed Staff presented a Phase 6 plan to extend the Cannonball Path along Fish Hatchery Road with a curb‑separated shared path, a diagonal signal at Carver Street and a proposed 14‑ft bike‑ped bridge over Wingra Creek; construction is targeted for 2026 with the bridge possibly delayed to 2027.

Exciting plans are underway for the Cannonball Path Phase 6, featuring a new shared use path and a stunning bridge over Wingra Creek, aimed at enhancing connectivity in Madison!

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CommunityConnectivity #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #ActiveTransportation

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3 months ago

Madison Transportation Commission reviews WisDOT BeltLine PEL; public urges opposition to lane expansion City staff and WisDOT presented the BeltLine PEL study; residents and commissioners raised concerns about potential home and business displacements, public‑health and climate impacts, and requested more origin‑destination data. WisDOT said PEL sets NEPA scope and public comments are being accepted.

Madison residents are rallying against a proposed $2 billion expansion of the BeltLine, arguing it threatens homes, neighborhoods, and the environment.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #ClimateImpact #CitizenPortal #PublicHealth #CommunityInput #MadisonTransportation

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3 months ago

Committee authorizes application for federal-state rail grant to study and improve at-grade crossings The Finance Committee unanimously authorized the Department of Transportation to apply for an FRA federal-state partnership grant to fund identified crossing improvements and a full safety evaluation of at-grade crossings along a proposed route; improvements would benefit existing freight operations and future passenger service.

Madison's Finance Committee just took a major step towards safer rail crossings, paving the way for future passenger services while enhancing current freight operations!

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #TransportationSafety #MadisonCrossings #InfrastructureImprovement #RailPlanning

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3 months ago

ALRC approves multiple new and amended alcohol licenses; one application referred for neighborhood outreach At its Dec. 17 meeting the committee approved a series of new and amended alcohol licenses — including Commercial Avenue, Mintmark, Luna’s Market, Sleep Inn/Mainstay (with amended capacity), Center for Black Excellence and Culture, Bonzo, Capital Club — and referred La Bonita for additional neighborhood and captain outreach.

The Alcohol License Review Committee has approved a series of exciting new and amended alcohol licenses, paving the way for fresh dining experiences and cultural venues in Madison!

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #MadisonAlcoholLicensing #CommunityOutreach #PublicSafety

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3 months ago

Staff updates Madison Plan Commission on Southeast and Southwest area plans; discussion centers on transit corridors, density and equity Planning staff presented draft actions for the Southeast and Southwest area plans, proposing increased mixed-use and a new medium residential 1 category on transit corridors. Commissioners raised questions about outreach to BIPOC communities, WisDOT/BeltLine uncertainties, potential health impacts and coordination on city-owned parcels.

Madison's planning staff is unveiling ambitious Southeast and Southwest area plans aimed at increasing housing density and enhancing transit corridors, but major questions about community engagement and health impacts linger.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CommunityEngagement

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3 months ago

Madison council hears technical briefing on lake health, leaf collection and salt-use tradeoffs City staff told the Common Council that Madison-area lakes remain impaired under federal listings, outlined regulatory limits (MS4/WPDES/TMDL), and described operational tradeoffs: scheduled leaf collection that captures much of the city’s fall phosphorus load, limits of mechanical versus vacuum sweepers, and the environmental limits of road salts; council adopted one procedural item earlier in the meeting.

Madison's lakes are struggling with pollution, and city officials are taking action to tackle the challenges of street runoff and winter salt use—find out how they're planning to improve water quality!

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #WaterQuality #PollutionReduction #MadisonLakes

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4 months ago

Internal audit finds $1.3M misallocation and control gaps in fleet; management outlines fixes An internal audit of fleet services identified misallocation of vehicle acquisition costs (~$1.3M), two p‑card transactions that exceeded the $10,000 single‑transaction limit, and asset reconciliation discrepancies; fleet management and fire leadership described steps to reconcile records and improve inventory controls.

An internal audit revealed a staggering $1.3 million in misallocation within Madison's fleet services, prompting urgent calls for stronger controls and accountability.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CitizenPortal #AuditRecommendations #MadisonFleet #FinancialTransparency

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4 months ago

Madison projects year‑end surplus; committee seeds $1M shelter endowment in appropriation resolution Finance staff projected higher revenues and underspending that together point to an estimated year‑end surplus; the committee approved a year‑end appropriation (Legistar 90,967) including a $1,000,000 transfer to seed a shelter endowment and increases to several direct appropriations, including Metro Transit subsidy.

Madison's finance team has unveiled a surprising year-end surplus of over $10 million, paving the way for significant investments in local priorities, including a $1 million boost to a shelter endowment!

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CitizenPortal #TransitFunding #BudgetSurplus

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4 months ago

Commission recommends approval of 16‑story Gilman/Francis redevelopment and demolition of 450 W. Gilman; neighbors urge documentation and caution The Plan Commission recommended approval of demolition for 450 W. Gilman and a rezoning and conditional‑use for a 16‑story mixed‑use building with 118 apartments and rooftop amenities, despite neighborhood concerns about historic preservation and driveway/loading impacts; Landmarks gave a Category B finding for the existing building.

The Plan Commission has greenlit a striking 16-story redevelopment project that will transform the historic 450 W. Gilman site into a vibrant mixed-use hub, but concerns from neighbors about preservation loom large.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #HistoricPreservation #CitizenPortal

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4 months ago

Plan commission approves 16‑story, auto‑free apartment at 139 W. Wilson with strict management conditions (6–2) After neighborhood objections about a narrow driveway, delivery turnaround and potential cycle‑track impacts, the Plan Commission approved conditional uses for a 16‑story, car‑free apartment building at 139 W. Wilson Street on a 6–2 roll call, subject to an approved management plan, engineering review of right‑of‑way impacts, and specified site conditions.

Madison's Plan Commission has greenlit a groundbreaking 16-story, car-free apartment building, despite heated neighborhood concerns about delivery logistics and safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #SustainableLiving

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4 months ago

Madison plan commission approves broad TOD zoning package and new ‘cottage court’ housing type with setback amendment The Plan Commission on Dec. 1 recommended a package of transit‑oriented development (TOD) zoning changes to implement the city’s housing plan, approved allowing 3–4 unit buildings in TODs, tightened rules on new auto‑oriented uses, and added a new cottage‑court housing type; commissioners added an 8‑foot rear‑setback amendment for cottage courts before approval.

Madison's Plan Commission just recommended transformative zoning changes, paving the way for more diverse housing options and innovative cottage courts!

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #CitizenPortal #TransitOrientedDevelopment #MadisonHousing #CommunityPlanning #AffordableHousing

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4 months ago

Madison adopts age-21 sales and display rules for hemp-derived THC products The council approved a substitute ordinance setting age-21 for sales of hemp-derived THC products and imposing display and youth-protection buffer rules. The substitute passed 13–5 after debate and a failed alternate to remove display and quarter-mile buffer provisions.

Madison's Common Council just approved a landmark ordinance that raises the minimum age for hemp-derived THC sales to 21, aiming to protect youth from potential harm.

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #YouthProtection #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #RetailRegulations #MadisonPublicHealth

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4 months ago

Madison council bans retail sales of dogs and cats in pet stores after lengthy public comment After hours of public testimony and debate, the Madison Common Council adopted an ordinance (Legistar 90,423) prohibiting retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats. Supporters cited puppy-mill sourcing and consumer-protection concerns; veterinarians and industry representatives warned of unintended consequences. The ordinance passed with two recorded no votes.

Madison has taken a bold step by banning the retail sale of dogs and cats in pet stores, aiming to combat puppy mills and promote rescue adoption!

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#MadisonDaneCounty #WI #PublicPolicy #CitizenPortal #AnimalWelfare #MadisonAnimals #ConsumerProtection