By Anita Weier
Friends of Hartmeyer Natural Area
Despite criticism by Northsiders at several public meetings and again before the Plan Commission in February, the mayor and several Common Council members introduced the Oscar Mayer Special Area Plan at the March 3 council meeting.
Some improvements have been made to the original plan, but the proposed Hartmeyer Natural Area remains about 13 acres (though this figure has been evolving) instead of the 30 acres requested by local residents. Additionally, the continuation of Coolidge Street through Packers Avenue — vociferously protested by Eken Park Neighborhood residents — remains in the plan.
Several Plan Commission members raised questions at their Feb. 10 meeting, but no vote was taken. Nevertheless, council members agreed after the meeting to introduce the plan to the council, after which the Common Council sent it to various city committees for input.
District 12 Alder Syed Abbas continues to strongly support preserving the Hartmeyer wetland, “the only remaining wetland ecosystem on the near Northside,” he noted. “I am not in favor of any development on this site.” He initially agreed to support introducing the plan to the council, but later removed his support because he said Planning Department staff had not made necessary changes after feedback at the Plan Commission meeting.
The Friends of Hartmeyer Natural Area are continuing other efforts to push for preservation. Paul Noeldner, who heads the group, has met with representatives of Dane County and an attorney representing the Hartmeyer Family Trust. The Friends have also reached out to the Ho-Chunk Department of Natural Resources to encourage them to support preservation of the land.
A developer has shown interest in the property, Noeldner said. This is of concern to the Friends since developers might offer more than the City of Madison could if the city acquired the property for a park. Also, the Hartmeyer site is currently zoned industrial, which could lead to usage that would add pollutants to those already present at the site, where diesel and coal fuels were stored.
Questions remain as to who would clean up the existing pollutants: Oscar Mayer owners Kraft-Heinz, the City of Madison, Reich Brothers Holdings (the current owner of the Oscar Mayer site) or the Hartmeyer Family Trust.