Minutes

Tenney Lapham Neighborhood Association Council

March 19, 2004

Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM

Participants:

Susan Ayers

Rose Smith

Gary Gilman

Richard Meyer

Howard Mueller

Ryan Cate

Larry Nespy

Bob Schneiker

Julie Norvaisas

Tibby Jorhorst

Simon Widstrand – Madison Parks Department

Harry Richardson

Jon Becker

Mike Ott – Madison Police Department

Diane Milligan, TLNA Housing Cmte

Ed Jepsen, Friends of Yahara Parkway

TLNA Council Members present:

Pat McDonnell

Sandy Ward

Gig Holland

Adam Cain

Carol Weidel

Susan Bauman-Duren

Margaret Bergamini

Teena Browder

Joe Brogan

Jim Zychowicz

Sal Calomino

Richard Linster

Cheryl Wittke

Council approved February minutes (moved by Gigi, seconded by Carol, motion carried)

After correction of spelling of Chris Jungbluth’s name, January minutes were approved (moved by Carol, seconded by Sandy)

Jim noted that the following items would be moved to the next meeting: Carl’s Paddling and Historic Monument

Announcement: Tenney Park Anniversary t-shirts are still available for sale – for details, talk to Susan

1 Sherman Terrace Development

Michael Matty of Renaissance Development gave a presentation on the proposed project. Noted that they are early in the planning process. No plan is in place – what’s on their website is an architect’s drawing provided as a sales pitch to developer.

Renaissance has had sole possession of the site for a few years. Building sits in the city, parking lot is town of Madison. Renaissance is talking to city engineering and others about annexation.

General plans for the site include:

• mix of retail and commercial
• retain coffee shop
• housing above (whatever he’s told he can do, he’ll have to budget that)
• Community Car (developer would purchase it for residents and neighborhood to use)
• Underground parking

Margaret – what’s timeline?

Michael – 6 months just to come up with a plan (sanitary sewer would have to be moved, MGE has easement and has talked to developer about moving lines, water table is high at this location)

3 months to notify people; 6 months to move through city processes

Gigi – what other developments has Renaissance completed?

Michael – this is our first residential development, and is also building a residential development on E. Washington.

Gigi – what is proposed density?

Michael – not sure, but would have 3 units of inclusionary zoning to be sold at a reduced price if Community Car is used.

Jim – Land is owned by condo association, but Renaissance has exclusive rights to build, develop, etc. Condo association has already given consent, so they won’t have to approve it again.

Question from meeting attendee: Would the new building be part of the condo association?

Michael – no – a new one would be formed. Site is zoned c2 (commercial). Would have to be part of a PUD, and would need to come back to the neighborhood association.

Question from meeting attendee: Why didn’t you come to Sherman Terrace association first?

Michael – there were no entanglements on our side. Previous owners didn’t pay taxes on the site, there were tanks underground, bylaws are complicated and outdated, which created complications. Amendment gives exclusive right, not ownership.

Comment from meeting attendee: Residents own the parking lot and pay taxes. Maybe Renaissance is unclear on what can be done with the location. Sherman Terrace Condo residents are concerned about more traffic and congestion at the location.

Sherman Terrace is actually a city street, not condo property.

Comment from meeting attendee: Residents thought he was pursuing development without giving them an opportunity to comment.

Michael: I felt it was important to get entanglements ironed out first. On the size question, it could be 3 stories under c2, PUD could make it higher, as could inclusionary zoning, but that doesn’t mean Renaissance would choose to do so.

Margaret: Suggestion on process. For TLNA, its good to hear from Renaissance before plans are made – we appreciate this. Sounds like issues need to be addressed at Sherman Terrace board and resident level. Please continue talking to them – go there before coming back to TLNA.

Jim – due to inclusionary zoning, there are no other legal requirements for developer to come to neighborhood association.

Margaret – moves that Renaissance continues to meet with Sherman Terrace Condo Association regarding development of 1 Sherman Terrace to iron out details. Requests that Michael come back to TLNA when there’s something on paper.

Sandy – seconded.

Discussion: Carol – perhaps TLNA could help set up meetings.

Comments from meeting attendees: People across the street that know about proposed project don’t like the density. Maybe residents don’t even know what’s planned.

Sal – friendly amendment – include residents across the street in discussions.

Michael – does the neighborhood association notify residents?

Margaret and Susan – no, communication networks are not that strong.

2^nd Tuesday of the month is condo association meeting.

Multijurisdictional PUDs – need to identify on lead municipality and they will take care of notifying folks.

Suggestion was made that Sherman Terrace form a separate neighborhood association.

Margaret – how is condo association organized? If tenants aren’t represented, TLNA should stay involved.

Motion passed.

Yahara River Parkway Report – Ed

City plans for Thorton Ave: street out, condemned little car lot, adding access for Great Big Pictures, Carl’s Paddling, etc. Great Big Pictures owns two buildings, so will create a wider “priviledged” access (8’ wide sidewalk, could handle golf cart).

Sandy – can power lines be buried? Who pays (city, landowners)?

Ed – good to explore.

Margaret – difficult too because of transformer.

Sy – hasn’t been feasible to date, but Parks is open to discussion.

Pat – consistent with neighborhood plan, we should pursue that.

Ed – will shop the idea around to MGE, Parks Dept.

Margaret – put together reps from TLNA and Friends of Yahara, Open Space – approach MGE for donation.

Sandy – motion. In adherence to Yahara Parkway and TLNA plan, make every effort to bury utility lines.

Pat seconded.

Motion passed.

Lighting for Ice Skating – Simon Widstrand, Madison Parks Department

Ice skating lighting needs to be replaced.

Simple issue: existing hockey lighting is 6 - 50’ poles – Parks proposes replacing these with 4 – 40 foot poles. This is sufficient given new lighting and three fixtures. Fixtures would be consistent with those at other parks – galvanized poles without visors because they’re not really necessary. They would like to have these installed by Madison Traffic Engineering over the summer.

More complicated issue: lighting of lagoon also needs to be replaced. Currently there are 30 ft. poles – we could stay with 30 ft. or go to 40 ft. and put them in the trees. Higher poles give better light dispersal without glare. Other option would be to put lights on the ouside so all would shine onto lagoon. Lights on the outside would point in.

Margaret – what affect will lighting have on dark sky issues.

Sy – most glare will come off the ice, not from the element. There will also be less light on lagoon than on the hockey rink.

Other notice needed? Residents of E. Johnson and Marston should probably be notified. Sy will come to April 27 pancake supper.

Police report – Officer Mike Ott

Officer Ott is Madison Police rep to the TLNA. His beat is 3 – 11, and he loves working in the area. Report:

1) Alcohol report and impact: There aren’t many bars in Tenney-Lapham neighborhood, but often police services to the neighborhood are slow because all police are elsewhere dealing with alcohol calls.

2) Crime stats for 2003 (Uniform Crime reporting). 5 major categories. Good news- crime is down, He’ll check to see if report is published on the website.

3) Garbage pickup before 6 AM. When someone complains, garbage contractors move early pickup to another location. Alder Konkel noted Alder Verveer and city attorney met with contractors and they’ve agreed to be more responsible. Keep complaining and police department will cite drivers.

4) Calls for service October – January: 4 batteries, 1 strong arm robbery, 18 burglaries, 2 death investigations, 4 fights, drug investigations. 701 parking complaints. Crashes – 47. 12 hit and runs, 7 drunk driving. At 950 E. Wash – a death tied to drugs from that residence.

Susan – two meetings ago, Madison Police notified the neighborhood that 2 sex offenders moved into the neighborhood, but area elementary school principals were not informed. Is there a way to ensure that this information is shared? Given the rash of approaches lately, principals should know. Alder Brenda should be notified too.

Community Oriented Policing Teams – expanded role to take care of issues other than those on State Street. We will see a little more of these teams in neighborhoods. Plan is to be more responsive to issues east of the square. 2^nd shift priority is to deal with house parties. Bars are on city property, so UW PD doesn’t deal with them. New dean of students is helping improve communication and sanctions for habitual problems.

Susan – suggests PD provides info to TLNA on house parties for stuffers that are distributed by neighborhood in August. 500 copies.

Mike will accept lists of houses that have been a problem. Also, he will bring traffic-related issues to Captain Yudice for CPT to deal with.

Mike will ask MPD data analyst to sort information so its more accessible – probably by both call type and address.

Susan – what issues due to E. Wash reconstruction has PD identified? Is city tracking increased speed and traffic volume on neighborhood streets? Mike noted that he hasn’t seen changes on E. Johnson. They lengthened green lights on E. Wash and that’s keeping the flow going. Brenda – there is more traffic on Willy Street.

Alder’s Report – Brenda Konkel:

PUD application at 1029 and 1029 ½ E. Gorham. Son wants to live in one, daughter to live in other. Keep them owner occupied.

428 N. Livingston – wants to move house to parking lot behind Yahara House. Has to get county, city and 2 Nas to approve it. Historic house. Owner is making a good faith effort now to contact folks.

Lots of people were interested in serving on committees per Brenda’s invitation to apply. That’s great – Mayor really needs people to serve. If you want to be on the list, please let her know.

Another opportunity to serve: E. Wash BUILD Committee (it’s now being created. Work will take a year to complete). In-fill development, county grant to plan it.

East Washington corridor planning: Mayor’s vision announcement was geared to business. Some were upset because they heard about it late in the game. He was encouraging landowners to do something with the land.

There will likely be a TIF district created after BUILD planning. Heard there’s been progress on Don Miller lot. Sal – is there an official rep from the NA? Brenda – not officially, but it would be important to maintain communication.

Early morning trash issue – e-mail from Capt. Yudice. If enough people complain, PD will forward to city attorney for prosecution.

5. Washington spillover? There are reports of semis on Gorham, which is not a truck route. Also, reports of problems accessing businesses on E. Wash.

E. Johnson will be closed for a couple of weekends this summer, due to sewer issues? First Brenda’s heard of it – she’ll find out more.

Transportation Committee Report:

Pat distributed vision statement. Please send comments about vision for committee to share at comprehensive Planning Meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10

Respectfully submitted,

Cheryl Wittke, TLNA Secretary

Return to TLNA Minutes

Return to Home Page