Minutes of April 19, 2007, meeting of

RNA Old University Avenue Project Advisory Committee

Attending the meeting were the following: Brian Peterson and Eric Seidl of PDI; John Stockham, Chair; George Hall, vice chair; Archie Nicolette, City of Madison; Jim Bradley; Phil Keillor; Nancy Webster; Ron Rosner; Larry Jacobsen; Bob Wood; Brian Mullins, Mullins Group; Steve Brown, Steve Brown apts; Scott Faust, Haircutters Salon; Karen Cornwell; Tim Wadlington; Liz Yzenga, Goldleaf Development; Gary Brown, UW; John Koffel; Tom Neujahr; Kevin Corrado; Karen Carlson; Pat O’Halloran and Michael Banas, Lombardino’s.

Chairman John Stockham called the meeting to order at 7pm. He reviewed the agenda, as follows: Introduction of committee members

Presentation by PDI

Committee input to PDI

Public input to committee

Logistics re: charrette and meeting dates.

After self introductions by committee members present, Brian Peterson and Eric Seidl of PDI used air photos of the Old University Avenue corridor to discuss certain concepts related to the Project. Among them: the need to view the Univ Ave corridor in the context of adjacent development activity; the importance of preserving the current quality of life in the neighborhood; viewing “density” from the perspective of how it is tied to neighboring structures. Peterson noted that University Avenue is a “border” but it is also the “seam” at which businesses and residents meet and mingle; and it is an address—a living environment. He invited the committee to identify problems and opportunities, strengths and weaknesses, according to the following categories:

Vehicular and pedestrian circulation

Land uses and activities

Building and development character

Open space

Priorities and critical areas

The following observations regarding the Old Univ Ave corridor were made by committee members.

1. Vehicular and pedestrian circulation.

· Old Univ Ave is a feeder street to the University.

· There is a dramatic transition at both ends of Old Univ Ave from fast, multi-lane to more pedestrian-friendly.

· Avoid actions which will shift traffic from Old Univ Ave to Kendall Ave.

· Are there proposed changes to Campus Drive and Univ Ave? Gary Brown answered “No”, adding that a bike path will run from Univ Bay Dr. to Linden Drive.

· Increasing difficulty for pedestrians to cross Old Univ Ave at Highland, Walnut and Prospect.

· Why is there no on-street daytime parking as occurs on Regent and Monroe Sts?

· On-street parking might calm traffic.

· Business owners would like more on-street parking.

· Archie Nicolette provided comparative traffic counts: 13,000 on Old Univ Ave; 23,000 on Regent; 17-20,000 on Monroe; and 39,000 on Campus Dr where it becomes Johnson St.

2. Land uses and residential and commercial activity.

• Land use on north side of Old Univ Ave is largely transient rental and “isolated” from the neighborhood south of Old Univ Ave.
• Lack of retail trade. Liz Yzenga noted that Goldleaf has had space available at 2355 Old Univ Ave for 2 yrs. Ron Rosner said it is important to distinguish between local shops and those which serve a broader geographic area.
• There being no east-bound entrance onto Campus Drive at Highland, east-bound traffic from Highland uses Old Univ Ave.
• Old Univ Ave between Highland and Grand is pedestrian friendly. East of Highland it is far less so. Is this due to limited setback east of Highland?
• There is a need for “workforce” housing, as contrasted with student housing.
• Question for developers present: do rental properties assume one or the other identity, workforce or student? Brian Mullins replied that student housing is easier to fill, but neighborhoods would prefer housing for “workforce”.
• Larry Jacobsen observed that, based on a recent survey of the Spooner-Breese portion of the neighborhood, preservation of properties is a major concern.
• The UW should provide housing opportunities for faculty and staff close to campus, reducing needs for driving and parking. Gary Brown noted the City is looking into this but nothing is likely in the near term for the RNA neighborhood.

3. Impressions of architecture on Old Univ Ave.

• Many buildings were constructed between 1910 and 1935.
• Eclectic, with few private homes
• Discussion regarding height of buildings ensued. Brian Mullins noted with respect to his proposed building on the NW corner of Highland and Old Univ Ave how height has become an important issue in his dealings with the neighborhood. Phil Keillor said height should be considered in relation to setback, but also in view of its potential for precedent. Brian Peterson spoke against general prohibitions on height, rather it should depend on what’s adjacent, concluding that the issue of height is nuanced and calls for flexibility. John Stockham said he would compromise on height for the sake of aesthetic concerns such as construction materials and set-back, and so as not to discourage new investment in the neighborhood.
• Scott Faust asked about streetscape improvements such as decorative street lamps.
• Tom Neujahr said it is important to maintain single-family homes on Old Univ Ave as a means of restraining large developments.
• George Hall spoke of the different feel as one proceeds from east to west on Old Univ Ave, perhaps coinciding with the limits of the historic district.
• Bob Wood proposed that different rules apply to different parts of the corridor, to which Brian Peterson concurred, noting he would work for block-by-block proposals.
• Jim Bradley spoke of architectural “icons”, by which he means significant properties that define the neighborhood from different perspectives. He identified the First Congregational Church as such an icon from the east and observed that the Mullins project could be similarly iconic from the west.

4. Open public space.

• There is little opportunity for additional open space, unless Campus Drive was covered over; not likely!
• Brian Mullins said that setbacks in their design would offer public open space.

5. Priorities.

• Brian Peterson asked the committee to identify “unities” or multi-block areas that are sufficiently similar that they could be combined for purposes of the plan. A few such areas were identified, such as the north side of Old Univ Ave from Breese to Princeton, the historic district to Allen St, and the commercial district, but for lack of time it was felt that the subject should be revisited at a subsequent meeting.

Chairman Stockham returned to committee logistics. The charrette will be held in the Graaskamp Room of the Inntowner on May 12 from 1 to 4PM, followed by a wrap-up by PDI.

Ron Rosner suggested dropping the term “charrette” in favor of “input to the Old Univ Ave Plannng Project”.

How to publicize the event was discussed: asking alder Robbie Webber to have a notice mailed to all residents; distributing a flyer to nearby residents, which Phil Keillor offered to prepare and distribute; asking shop owners to post notices.

The next meting was set for the evening of June 6 at the Inntowner.

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Rosner, Secretary