The city's Plan Commission met Monday night to continue discussions about future renovations to the downtown area, including Broom Street and State Street.
Bill Fruhling, principal planner of the Plan Commission, said the main concern facing the renovation process was maintaining a cohesive working and living atmosphere downtown while protecting the natural scenery of the Capitol and the lakes.
The committee shared design summaries and land-use plans that aim to conserve the character of West Washington Avenue as a ""gateway to the Capitol."" The most significant suggestions involved altering building heights around West Mifflin Street, North Brooks Street and Hamilton Street.
In the building plan, the structures on South Hamilton Street toward Lake Monona would be four to six stories high, allowing the taller buildings near the Capitol to maintain lake views.
Buildings in the West Mifflin Street and North Bassett Street area would be three to four stories high, with the possibility to expand to six stories in alternative plans.
Fruhling said maintaining wide terraces and canopy trees downtown would also enhance the visual atmosphere. He said the renovated areas will maintain the same uses they have served for the past 20 years as communal space and popular living areas.
""In these plans, the residential areas are still residential areas,"" he said.
For State Street, Fruhling said he wishes to keep its current mixture of retail, residential, entertainment and office aspects.
Ald. Julia Kerr, District 13, said she had concerns about the number of bars in the State Street area. She said the high number of bars is a ""threat to the character and well-being"" of State Street because of their dominance over local shops.
The committee will soon continue discussing possible renovations affecting all areas of campus, and particularly the Mifflin Street area.
