County

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Plan Commission approved the conceptual plan and set a public hearing for rezoning for a proposed four-story, 37 unit apartment building at the site of the now closed Sonic fast food restaurant 6413 University Ave. 

The project is being proposed The Commonwealth Companies. Kevin McDonell from Commonwealth said they are the seventh largest affordable housing developer nationwide.

McDonell explained the company in vertically integrated with in house architects, construction and property management.

McDonell said Commonwealth developments are mostly in Wisconsin but they have properties in 14 other states as well with 5,850 units altogether in nearly 100 properties.

The University Avenue proposal would consist of 37 units at market rate and affordable apartments in a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Thirty-one of the units would be affordable while the remaining would be market rate. 

DANE COUNTY–The Dane County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting to take public testimony on the proposed 2020 Dane County budget on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in room 201 of the City-County Building, 210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Madison. The public is invited to testify for or against items in the County Executive’s proposed budget. Testimony is also welcome on any amendments to that proposal. 

The proposed 2020 Dane County budget authorizes a total of $653.7 million for combined operating and capital expenditures, financed by $385.8 million in outside revenues, existing resources and borrowing; $68.2 million in sales tax; and $191.9 million in county tax levy funds.  The proposed budget results in an increase in property taxes of $21.85 on the average Madison home (valued at approximately $300,967). 

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council approved a resolution Oct. 1 imploring state and federal governments to take emergency action to address gun violence. The resolution was sent to all of Middleton’s respective legislators along with a letter from police chief Chuck Foulke, which calls for change which could have prevented the attempted mass shooting at WTS Paradigm in Middleton a little over a year ago. 

The resolution adopted by the council calls for legislation creating a red flag law or “extreme risk protective order,” universal background checks, a ban on assault rifles and high capacity magazines and reinstitution of a 48 hour waiting period to purchase firearms.

The resolution points to Gov. Tony Evers’ challenge to the legislature to take up such proposals. 

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–Town board supervisors last week approved construction of a storm water retention pond, contingent on reaching an agreement with Stonebrook Estate residents unhappy about its location.

By a 3-2 vote, with Supervisors Denise Schmidt and Brent Renteria dissenting, the board awarded a $375,591 bid to MJ Excavating, of Johnson Creek. The bid not only came in well under the town engineers’ pre-bid cost estimate of $543,239 but construction can begin either this fall or next spring.

The Stonebrook residents have opposed the planned storm water retention pond to be dug in an out lot of the 66 residential lot subdivision. They have contended that the town’s easement on the out lot doesn’t permit a storm water pond there. They also say they weren’t consulted about the project until well after planning began and they aren’t protected against accidents occurring on their property.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Plan Commission reviewed the concept for a senior living building located between the belt line and Parmenter St. north of County Highway M. The proposal is a three story building with 99 units, of which 30 are independent living units, 48 assisted living units, and 21 in the basement-level are memory care units.

The proposal was introduced by Tom Peintka, co-owner of the real estate developer for the project’s TUKKA Properties. President of MIG Commercial Real Estate, the landowner, Bradley Hutter also shared information on how the project would change the overall plan for development along Tribeca Dr. 

He explained that the TUKKA project is first in a series of development projects coming to Tribeca which will eventually redevelop the entirety of the site, beginning next spring. 

MIDDLETON–Make your voice count!  Voting is your chance to weigh in on issues that matter to you, but to do that you need to be properly registered.

Sept. 24 is National Voter Registration Day.  Since 2012 this national holiday has sponsored activities throughout the country to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to vote. Last year over 800,000 voters throughout all 50 states used National Voter Registration Day to register to vote.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council deferred approval of the finalized building plan for phase three of Middleton Center amid contention over proposed changes and the implementation of the overall development’s parking plan. 

The revised building plan submitted by developer T. Wall Enterprises calls for two buildings instead of the originally proposed three. The buildings would be on Terrace Ave., one would be multifamily residential and the other would be mixed use with commercial space in the ground level. Together the buildings would have a total of 65 units consisting of efficiencies, one and two bedrooms.

The plan also calls for changes to the parking plan which would deactivate some lift and slide mechanisms that were installed to meet the city’s parking requirements in tight spaces and eliminating parking credits for bike parking, bus passes and community cars.

Alder Robert Burke said he was concerned about the parking plan.

MIDDLETON–Complaints about noise from airplanes using the Middleton Municipal Airport, and explanations for it received a thorough airing at last week’s Airport Commission meeting.

Take offs and landings have greatly increased to more than 38,000 annually during the past few years creating more noise for nearby residents and increasing their concerns.

Two residents said that after making a complaint about airplane noise, planes flew low and loud over their property in retaliation.

A yellow airplane and a white Cirrus plane with blue markings were identified as the planes that have allegedly buzzed houses near the airport in retaliation for noise complaints.

Airport Manager Rich Morey said he hadn’t heard about a problem with the white Cirrus before and there were about five yellow-painted airplanes hangered at the airport. 

“We’ll look into this,” he said.

MIDDLETON–A Middleton city ordinance banning the use of vape products where smoking is banned went into effect on Sept. 6, just one day after Public Health of Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) issued a health warning concerning the use of the devices.

The measure was proposed in Middleton by Alders Dan Ramsey and Luke Fuszard in May, before 53 hospitalizations in Wisconsin and Illinois and five deaths around the nation were related to flavored, liquid vaping solution. All of the patients were experiencing respiratory problems, and in many of the incidents the liquid was acquired on the street affecting both nicotine and THC products.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission reviewed the concept plan for a proposed four story, 87-unit hotel at 3055 Deming Way titled Towneplace Suites by Marriott. While the plan commission did not grant concept approval because of safety concerns raised by planning staff, there was support for the project on the site should the concerns be addressed.

Towneplace Suites would be an extended stay hotel between Spectrum Brands and Nursery Dr. just north of the confluence pond. The building would be oriented lengthwise to face Highway 12 and be surround by 88 parking spaces and two storm water ponds.

Planning and zoning administrator Mark Opitz said staff are concerned about the amount of impervious surface on the site, access to the site and the orientation to the street.

Optiz said should the development move forward staff are recommending another access point into the site be required because as proposed there is only one entrance and exit.