The City of Madison Plan Commission unanimously approved a conditional use request to construct a new UW-Madison Lakeshore residence hall and food service facility Monday.
The project was reviewed with reference to the City of Madison's development standards, Planning Division Director Bradley Murphy said.
""We were happy to recommend approval,"" Murphy said.
A conditional use is granted to a project when the uses described for the plan are not permitted outright, but may be allowed if certain standards and conditions are met along with the Plan Commission's approval.
The committee said they strongly supported the project even though the current building plans exceed the zoning limit of three stories in that zoning district.
""We're a town that's starting to grow up in many different ways,"" committee member Ald. Lauren Cnare, District 3, said. ""Literally growing up ... I think it's a great idea.""
The proposed site of the new residence hall is adjacent to a national eligible Native American mounds site. In preliminary archeological studies performed on the potential construction site, no artifacts have been found, UW-Madison Director of Campus Planning and Landscape Architecture Gary Brown said in a statement.
""The university is really sensitive to its environment,"" Cnare said. ""They recognize that's a special piece of land along Lakeshore.""
The new building will be five stories tall, with floors two through five serving as a dormitory space. The ground floor will be a dining room area providing service to an estimated 3,250 students living in the Lakeshore residence halls. The tennis courts and parking lot currently occupying the land would be removed.
Construction of the new Lakeshore hall located at 640 Elm Drive is scheduled to begin March 2011 with completion in June 2012.
