Volleyballs, beach chairs and beer. Sounds like a beach party, except it could be on State Street if Greg Meyers, owner of Buffalo Wild Wings, 529 State St., is allowed to construct a volleyball court in the adjacent parking lot. Meyers presented his plan to the Madison Urban Design Commission Wednesday for a temporary removable volleyball area between Buffalo Wild Wings and University Inn, 441 N. Frances St., that would include tables and chairs for restaurant customers.
\The parking lot is not utilized in the summer,"" he said. ""We would run [volleyball] leagues from May 15 to August 15.""
The structure would include removable fencing, hanging containment nets around the volleyball court and white barriers to hold the sand in the court area. Commission members voiced concerns about the visual aesthetics of the whole project and voted to refer the proposal to their next meeting.
""This is an ill-conceived project that just doesn't belong on State Street,"" Commission member Robert March said.
Commission member Joseph Mashick said he was timid about the project, but added that he could accept it if certain changes were made to the design.
""The plastic Menards chairs, the plastic barriers'it just seems like there is a way to do it better,"" he said in reference to the design details presented. ""We've taken a long look for a long time at State Street's [appearance].""
With the State Street Design Project slowly creeping through the city process, along with the changes asked for by the Business Improvement District, Meyers said he was aware that he may be asked to permanently remove his structure.
""A year to two down the road, if there is a better use for the lot, then 'Bam,' it's gone,"" he said.
Earlier in the evening, Durrant architect Ryan Mastalski introduced Dane County's plan for the Dane County Justice Center to be built on the corner of West Wilson and South Hamilton streets. The general information presentation was the first step of the city approval process the Center must go through before it reaches the City Council for a final vote.
A number of commission members discussed the lack of public space between the sidewalk and building along the Center's main entrance on South Hamilton Street.
""I was really troubled by how the sidewalk and the building meet; it mimics what we did in the '60s,"" Mashick said.
Mastalski said he would take the recommendations and tweak the project, then come back in the next few months for final approval.
""Most of the issues brought to light by the commission are the concerns [we're working on],' he said. ""We want to have more of a pedestrian level and human scale.""
The commission also decided to refer a proposal from Kelly Meyer, owner of State Street Brats, 603 State St., to refurbish the fence surrounding the outside portion of the establishment.
