I often wonder how decisions are made about what to cover in local newspapers. We know at the Wisconsin State Journal that they believe that people want advertising/shopping information, so I’m often not surprised when they don’t cover news. But I’m a little in awe of their complete lack of coverage of the plan commission meeting last night.
I knew it was a going to be a big night when I turned around and the room was filled with Alders Compton, Skidmore, Brandon, Radomski, King, Gruber, Palm, Bruer and later Webber who joined Golden, Cnare and myself who sit on the plan commission. We actually had more than a quorum of the council at the meeting.
Why, you might ask?
Well, most of them had projects in or near their districts that they were interested in. There were three big items on the agenda and two big looming policy/budget issues.
Hilldale Whole Foods
We actually rejected the project. That happens like twice a year. The project was a complete disappointment to most after the first phase of the Hilldale development, but that in and of itself wasn’t really enough for rejection. However, several plan commissioners cited lack of a traffic management plan, lack of consistency with our comprehensive plan, the “sea of parking”, the site plan and the lack of a more intense land use in the area as reasons, among others, for rejection of the project. Apparently, that wasn’t newsworthy.
Todd Drive
At the last meeting we delayed voting because we needed to know from the City Attorney if we could approve a demolition when the business requesting the demolition didn’t own the property. We don’t typically have a city attorney present and the issue was raised by the current owner of one of the properties that was proposed to be torn down. We subsequently got the ok from the City Attorney and then approved the project. Apparently, that wasn’t newsworthy, its only newsworthy when we are “holding up” a project so we can get legal advice.
University Square
Again, we approved an amazingly huge project and included over $800,000 in a buy out for inclusionary zoning. And again, its not newsworthy when we resolve a problem, only when there is a perceived problem.
TIF, TIF and more TIF
We’re on a collision course and its not just the East Washington corridor/Gary Gorman that isn’t going to get TIF funding from the City of Madison. Last night we approved moving ahead on options to purchase properties at the “BioAg Gateway”. Problem is, we only have $2M in the budget and the properties will likely cost us $3.4M according to the info we had.
And then the Todd Drive project wants $4.2M in TIF.
And Allied Drive needs TIF.
And the University Square project needs TIF.
And Union Corners needs TIF.
And . . . and . . . and . . . I’m sure I missed a few.
And . . . since we’ve never acted on the TIF policy that was recommended by the Board of Estimates subcommittee over 9 months ago, we’re about to have policy debate project by project about if a project that request TIF should have simultaneous approvals of the TIF and land use, or if those decisions should be made separately.
So, where was the Wisconsin State Journal? They apparently found spitting more newsworthy. Worst part of this is, if the Wisconsin State Journal doesn’t cover it, neither does radio or TV . . . and the public ends up in the dark.
Let’s see how the Cap Times does . . .
