The Common Council approves Raemisch Farm development
By Anita Weier
Northside News
The Madison Common Council on Sept. 6 approved Green Street Development Group’s proposal for the Raemisch farmland between Sherman and Packers Avenues just north of Lakeview Elementary School.
The developer, based in St. Louis, had made several revisions after filing its initial plans in April 2021. The new proposal includes 10 acres of agricultural land along Sherman Avenue, as well as a reduced number of single-family homes. Previous changes provided Lakeview School with 3.5 acres for its school forest.
The plan for the 63-acre site now includes: 76 single-family lots on 23.7 acres, 3.9 acres of townhouses, 12.3 acres of multi-family housing, 1.5 acres of park space, 10 acres that will remain zoned for agriculture, a stormwater management site and 5.3 acres of commercial space on Packers Avenue.
The Madison Plan Commission unanimously approved the new plan Aug. 29, saying that it met all zoning and other requirements. The Common Council, which had previously rejected Green Street’s plans, voted 15 to 3 for the revised proposal following extensive discussion and many comments from the public, most online.
What made the difference this time? Alder Syed Abbas, who represents District 12 on the Northside, said the fact that the developer promised in writing to use noise resistant construction in residential structures closest to the airport led him to change his vote to yes. Other alders noted that Green Street’s actions in accommodating neighbor’s requests was a factor.
Northside Alder Charles Myadze, District 18, made a heartfelt plea that the council support the single-family homes in the proposal. “I lived in a two-bedroom apartment with three kids. Having our own house was wonderful. This is personal to me. I want others to have a chance for a house.”
Another factor was a letter from the Northside Planning Council supporting the revised plan. The letter, signed by Chair Lauri Lee, Interim Executive Director Martee Mikalson and Food Systems Director Chris Brockel, said, “The economic benefits of increased access to quality, workforce housing is about addressing inequality, creation of jobs and greater tax generation. The cry of Northside businesses is for a local qualified workforce with growing incomes to spend at local Northside businesses.”
A group of Northside residents known as the Raemisch Farm Work Group continued to oppose Green Street’s plans. Several objected to locating housing in an area near the airport, where noisy F-35 fighter jets will be based. A resident of Burlington, Vermont, spoke online to warn that his community has suffered under F-35 flights.
Joel Oliver of Green Street promised that noise attenuation construction would protect residents of the development in multi-family housing and that no residential construction on the Packers Avenue side would be built through 2027, after the F-35s arrive.
Northside residents previously asked whether any subsidized housing for low-income residents would be included. That is not the case. There will be workforce housing and market rate housing.
Sunfield Street would link Sherman and Packers, and Eliot and another street would go through from north to south.
Oliver stressed that Green Street would be investing $150 million in the Northside of Madison.
City Planner Colin Punt previously emphasized that there is a shortage of housing for all income levels in Madison, and that the population has been growing faster than predicted. “Vacancy rates are lower than we would prefer for owned and rented housing. There is a definite need,” Punt said. “We need to build to get out of the housing deficit from the recession of 2008,” he explained.
Former District 8 Alder Zach Wood, who now lives on the Northside, commented that “This is the highest and best use of this land. The housing is a big deal. What I have really heard (from opponents) was ‘not in my back yard.’”