Zenz

If this is what it looks like it is, then very embarrassing for the DA's office. Trump level stuff here.

Dane County DA has been investigating Shorewood Hills since Feb., including the single-family home that neighbors have tried to stop. They are requesting open records from the village. This is a really wild request.
files.constantcontact.com/e7f4f76f901/...

Council unanimously approves TID financing for the purchase of properties at Royster Corners for land banking.

Ochowicz also not concerned and trusts staff - he thinks that the TID funding is healthy. Guequierre says that the appraisal looks very professional - he has experience reading them. The comparables look very good and it also takes into account the DNR info for site.

Harrington-McKinney says that the appraisal should have been in the meeting packet. Evers says that he just read it -it was just sent to alders - and says it looks rigorous and trusts that staff vetted it. He thinks nothing is gained through referral and supports funding.

Pritchett is now wondering whether the ground samples at the site were done randomly or not. Staff reiterates that everything was done to DNR standards.

Pritchett is concerned that the land might not have been cleaned enough, and that there could still be unknown toxins (the DNR approved site cleanup). Staff thinks that the city knows more about the toxins and remediation at this site than other places around the city.

With the new borrowing, the TID would still produce enough money to be closed in 2029. Pritchett wonders why no one wanted to buy the property. Staff doesn't know for sure. This used to be a fertilizer plant and was remediated after then, but he doesn't think there were any red flags for property.

A few Vidaver questions. The city has not yet talked to MGE about taking control of the properties under the power lines, and the area for the park is not currently zoned for a park. Matthews wonders whether in the distant future power lines might be buried-could still not be developed.

I thankful every day that my old house is not in a historic district. I don't know why any city would do this to themselves.

Concern from several members about not being able to see the appraisal. The Mayor asks staff to just email the appraisal to the Council. Staff describe other landbanking projects included E Wash Constellation, etc. developments, Union Corners, and Owl Creak. These will be small scale developments.

Evers also wonders whether there is cost in re-referral to finance committee. Staff say that the properties could sell in the meantime, but it has been on the market for a while so prob. won't sell but the owner was hoping for a quick sale.

Evers and Ochowicz want the appraisal posted in legistar - this isn't usually done, but staff say they can do it. Evers wonders whether there can be a second opinion about the appraisal. Staff say that they sometimes obtain second opinions, but didn't choose to do so in this case.

Mayer wondered what benefit there is from the city buying the land over a private developer, and wonders whether the city could sell in the future. Guequierre mentions another situation he is dealing with where there is a big difference between assessed and appraised value, suggests it is common.

Pritchett wonders about stray voltage from the power lines (mentions messed up dairy herds near power lines). City might keep it as open space, or use for some other purposes, but she wonders whether they could evaluate the voltage and bury lines in the future.

Legistar: 92015 madison.legistar.com/LegislationD...

Local conservatives like Alex Saloutos object to the purchase price, calling it speculative. There is also some concern that the assessed value of the property is just ~ $1.5M, though staff note that assessments often differ from appraisal. Money would primarily come from the local TID financing.

On to the purchase of 6.2 acres of properties near Royster Corners for land banking, parkland, and future development. City is also acquiring undevelopable under power lines (for nothing). The developable properties were appraised at $4.8M and the city negotiated $5.2M.

None of them face competitive elections this year. They could make major changes to Landmarks if they wanted to.

I'm a little puzzled more alders didn't vote in favor of appeal. They probably could have just said that they disagreed with Landmarks that the Baldwin house is not a comparable property in the district. I'll have to think about it, but I feel like this needs to go in the YIMBY index....

Appeal of Landmarks Commission decision to not allow a metal roof on 1123 Jenifer Street is denied 17-3, Harrington-McKinney, Knox, Pritchett voting against. Many alders were frustrated with the Landmarks ordinance, but thought Landmarks' decision complied with it.

Appeal of Landmarks Commission decision to not allow a metal roof on 1123 Jenifer Street is denied 17-3, Harrington-McKinney, Knox, Pritchett voting against. Many alders were frustrated with the Landmarks ordinance, but thought Landmarks' decision complied with it.

Pritchett thinks that the current ordinance has contradictions - for instance, doesn't think it is likely that homeowners have records of what materials their homes were made of. She also thinks the homeowner is being penalized and we should let change happen.

Matthews does not think variances are likely to be granted, though the financial hardship reason is the one they should focus most on. She also says that as a new homeowner she understands that many homeowners might not be able to repair homes to the standards of Landmarks.

I think this appeal might actually bring about changes to our preservation ordinances.

Ochowicz says that historic preservation often harms renters too, because owners aren't willing to pay the extra money to make changes according to historic standards. Mayer thinks this appeal brings to light a need to work on the preservation ordinances.

Guequierre says that given his experience with installing solar panels, a standing seam metal roof is far cheaper for what they want. He says that a metal shingle roof is much more expensive. Martinez-Rutherford also says that preservation rules are elitist, but they need to follow the ordinance.

Evers moves to deny the appeal. He says he doesn't like doing it, but thinks Landmarks applied the rule correctly and Council is acting as a quasi-judicial body. Field seconds.

Ochowicz asks whether the Council could act on an appeal of a variance. City Attorney says that they could at a later time, but that would be a new application and then a variance request that is appealed.

Matthews asks how common it is for the city to not know what the material was. Bailey doesn't know, but she suggests that you can draw evidence from other buildings in the district or find evidence of it in the building.