City planning officials supported changes in the downtown plan, which will now aim to preserve the character of the Mifflin neighborhood.
The Downtown Plan, a comprehensive planning guide for the city of Madison for the next twenty years, originally included plans for high-rise apartments.
In response to this, the Plan Commission approved a six-story height limit for future developments on Mifflin and Dayton streets and a four-story limit on West Washington Avenue with the possibility of two additional stories.
Commission members said they hoped the height limit will provide guidance for the various city planning committees that will make recommendations in the future.
“I think we need some more direction in what the Plan Commission thinks is the right direction to go in the future with this area,” said Urban Design Commission member Bill Fruhling.
The Plan Commission also spent considerable time discussing whether the Mifflin neighborhood should remain residential as opposed to including retail and commercial space.
“We have to be very specific about what we want,” said Plan Commission member Anna Andrzejewski. “I think we have to strike a balance.”
Some Plan Commission members expressed their desire to maintain the neighborhood’s unique character.
“It’s a cultural heritage neighborhood too, so I’m not saying it should never change, but I don’t really know if there’s a balance in [the current neighborhood concept proposals],” said Ald. Marsha Rummel, District 6.
Urban Design Commission members said they hope the Plan Commission’s guidelines will provide a strong basis in creating development plans for the Mifflin neighborhood.
