June 20, 2006
Plan Commission Approves Midvale Plaza Plan–Updated July 9
On June 19th, the Plan Commission voted to approve the Midvale Plaza redevelopment plan, despite strong opposition from the neighborhood. Over two dozen people spoke in opposition, and several speakers cited the over 650 signatures on our recent proposal. [WE NOW HAVE OVER 800 SIGNATURES AND HOPE TO HAVE 1000 BY JULY 18.]Apparently, citizen input is only encouraged when it supports Plan Commission members’ pet projects. About five speakers, one of whom spent half her time trashing the Steering Committee, spoke in favor of the development. They have 18 signatures on their petition supporting the plan.
The redevelopment plan must still be approved by the Common Council; it is on the July 18th agenda. Because a Protest Petition has been filed, a super majority of the Council must vote to approve the plan (15 out of 20 alders) in order for it to pass. We will continue to collect signatures and try to develop support for our position, which is not anti-infill, but merely wants the new Plaza to be somewhat smaller than proposed.
Links to news media:
Channel 3:
http://www.channel3000.com/news/9395017/detail.html
Cap Times:
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/index.php?ntid=88304&ntpid=0
Put July 18th on your calendars now.
Mimi Levinson said,
June 20, 2006 at 10:57 am
Here is the link to the article in today’s Cap Times regarding the meeting last night. I have to say I’m extremetly disheartened by the comments from the committee members.
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/stories/index.php?ntid=88304
Brandon Casto said,
June 20, 2006 at 1:42 pm
To Mimi:
Just to clarify, when you say committee members, are you referring to the plan commission or the steering committee?
Mimi Levinson said,
June 20, 2006 at 2:03 pm
Sorry, I meant the City Planning Commission. I think the steering committee is doing a great job!
Mimi Levinson said,
June 20, 2006 at 2:05 pm
Sorry, that wasn’t really clear, was it?
I meant the City Planning Commission members. I think the Steering Committee is doing a great job!
Mary Dallman said,
June 21, 2006 at 12:42 pm
This situation is out of control. Our Alders don’t listen to the people who elected them. Is everyone aware that the developer wants to put one of his “Food Fight” restaurants at Midvale Plaza, and that an existing restaurant of his has his own bakery PLUS Chocolate Shoppe as a part?
Why hasn’t anyone brought up the absurdity of reducing neighborhood services by eliminating existing businesses yet adding 140 additional housing units? Will the new tenants not need to eat, buy toilet paper or a birthday card or the local paper? Will they just be rent-paying pod people who exist on air? Or are we actually looking at a housing project here?
The Emporer’s New Clothes, indeed!
Mimi Levinson said,
June 22, 2006 at 12:54 pm
Really good points. I’ve been wondering about this myself. Seems rather anti-New Urbanism. Build lots of new housing, then eliminate retail to support them. Forcing people into their cars to drive…
Mimi
Mary Dallman said,
June 23, 2006 at 7:35 am
From a letter in 6/23 Wall Street Journal:
Donald Trump wants to build huge condo complex in Hendersonville NC. Letter to editor titled “You Keep Your Condos, We’ll Keep Our Charm”:
“…It isn’t the condos; it’s the height issue.
“People come here to escape the high rises they love to hate. It is a brass-tacks economic issue…[people] remark how nice it is that the place has managed to maintain its charm and small-town character. They are seeking the unique, not the ordinary. [People who think] some high rise filled with millionaires will keep them afloat are naive.
“Trump Mortgage LLC is quoted as saying: ‘There are houses that are taller than five stories on Long Island. Please.’ I will forgo comment on the condescending arrogance of that statement by saying that Mr. Ridings doesn’t understand on which side the community’s bread is buttered.”
Mimi Levinson said,
June 23, 2006 at 12:19 pm
Also, I wonder about the wisdom of such rapid condo growth- where exactly is the market coming from? I would like to see some of the demographics of who are buying the condos and also who is moving into Dane County- is the typical condo buyer the same person who is causing Dane County to grow? There’s an interesting article in today’s Cap Times about the big Alexander Co. project on West Wash which is at a standstill because the real estate market is slowing down, in addition to costs for materials being higher due to material costs going up. http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/index.php?ntid=88745
Mary Dallman said,
June 23, 2006 at 12:44 pm
Mimi, I put a link to the Cap Times article by Mike Ivey under “Questions About Proposal” – also read following letter:
http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/index.php?ntid=88579&ntpid=1
Mary Dallman said,
June 23, 2006 at 1:08 pm
http://www.developdontdestroy.org
tom taborsky said,
July 9, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Krupp’s move to include the library as retail is spurious. A public library in Madison pays no taxes, is not regulated or set-up for profits, is supported by gifts, donations, and tax levies. Retail is the opposite so Krupp can not equate the two.
The Krupp/Kelly team’s traffic expert was extremely prejudicial. Why not, the team hired him. Yet, the Council seemed to take his evaluation at face value. Come on – has the council ever heard of shopping around? In our court system, each side has no trouble presenting experts with contradictory views.
Are there square footage, retail requirements at Midvale? If so, without the library does Krupp meet them?
Did the library ratify the “deal” before they knew of the actual details of the project? If so, city entities wanted the plan reguardless of specific details. Duh – does this mean that the library wanted expansion at any cost? Must check dates on this point.
Did the library ignore public input from its neighborhood patrons? Did they ask you? When all is said and done, the library is a neighborhood institution. How involved in library decisions and meetings are userse who are outside communities?
Finally, we should ask about city priorities. What trumps what? This would be revelatory in light of Infill Plan.
Midvale Plaza Forum » Planning Commission Comments said,
July 9, 2006 at 3:16 pm
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Roger Hansen said,
July 18, 2006 at 11:27 am
Our representitive will not be doing his job if he supports this or allows it to pass. How do we start a recall if this passes???
Tom Taborsky said,
July 23, 2006 at 1:04 pm
There are two Comp. Plans: The original Plan and the operative, quasi Plan.