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Link to Neighborhood Plan Announced
By Jeremy Kautza--RNA Webmaster
April 02, 2004--Earlier this year, Ridgewood Neighborhood Planning Grant Coordinator Joe Campana, announced that
a website is now available for residents to view a comprehensive plan for future development of the neighborhood. The
plan, completed by Schreiber/Anderson Associates, Inc. addresses concerns expressed by the residents of Ridgwood Neighborhood
over future land use and traffic patterns. According to the plan,
"This project was initiated by the Ridgewood Neighborhood and the City of Madison
Planning Department out of neighborhood concerns over the development of two
parcels in the east central portion of the neighborhood, straddling the transition
between the residential neighborhood and the East Towne retail area. The goal of the project was to establish a land use and development plan for these undeveloped parcels along Lien Road addressing
the common interests of neighborhood residents, area businesses, and the property
owners. More specifically the study objectives were twofold:
1. Establish consensus with the neighborhood, businesses, and property
owners on a land use and development plan for the parcels.
2. Conduct a transportation study for a larger geographic area examining
the long-term affects of future development on the Ridgewood Neighborhood’s
current transportation system, particularly to the east."
The plan, which was completed in November of 2002, can be viewed
in its entirety by clicking on the link below. This is a large document, so please be patient while it is downloading.
Ridgewood Neighborhood Development Plan
Other City of Madison Neighborhood Development Plans
An Open Letter from the NPG Project Chair
September 1, 2001
Dear Burke Heights, Glacier Heights, Ridgewood, and Sycamore-McArthur Neighbors:
Just over a year ago I had discussions with your local neighborhood leaders to form a coalition of Far East Side Neighborhoods.
The purpose of the coalition was to address common issues of our neighborhoods and businesses such as future development trends,
traffic, congestion, safety, and crime prevention. From the many neighbors I have talked to, I know that these and other issues
are of concern to you. The Neighborhood Planning Grant (NPG) is our first formal attempt to bring four neighborhoods together
to hear your ideas and concerns.
Why a coalition? City Planners and Council listen when a majority of people speak out. For example, our neighborhoods
stopped a dubious out-of-town developer from undertaking a development project, which the City had approved. We were able
to halt the undesirable project because of hundreds of neighbors who were willing to stand up and be counted. However, this
reactive approach is not the most desirable manner to work with developers and the City. As responsible citizens, we should
be using proactive and constructive planning methods.
OUR Neighborhood Planning Grant is funded by the City (YOUR Tax Dollars) and by local businesses (dollars YOU spend with
them). The NPG takes a proactive approach and is intended to involve all of our residents and businesses. The purpose of the
NPG is to listen to your ideas AND concerns about development, traffic control, green space, safety, etc. Your ideas and desires
will be used to develop a written plan to be used by the City and by Developers to shape a region of neighborhoods as YOU
would like to see it develop.
It is very important that all of our residents participate in one of the two Community Forums. This will be a fun process.
You wont have to speak. We will have small groups of neighbors working with facilitators. The facilitators will guide you
through the planning process with a series of questions that you can answer on a piece of paper. This two-hour interactive
process with neighbors has been used to plan many neighborhoods. Its success depends on YOU.
I am looking forward to meeting you either on Tuesday, Sept. 11 or Wednesday, Sept. 19. Please bring a neighbor.
Sincerely yours,
Joe Campana,
NPG Project Manager
Forums to Formalize Neighborhood Plan set for September 11 and 19
By Jeremy Kautza--August 15, 2001
Madison--The Ridgewood Neighborhood Association was recently named a recipient of a Neighborhood Planning Grant (NPG)
from the city. This program is designed to allow people to proactively address important planning issues in the neighborhood.
A Steering Committee that included several Ridgewood residents and representatives from local businesses, the Burke Heights
Neighborhood Association and the Sycamore-McArthur Neighborhood Association met in mid-August to kick off the project and
to plan the first community forum. This and future forums will involve all residents from our neighborhoods.
To promote a high level of participation by giving residents a choice of meeting dates to fit their schedules, two community
forums have been scheduled. Community forums will be held on Tuesday, September 11 and Wednesday, September 19. The meetings
will begin at 6pm and last two hours. They will be held at the Sycamore Utility Building at 4602 Sycamore Avenue.
At the meetings residents will be asked to contribute their likes and dislikes about our neighborhood. Afterwards, facilitators
will help identify specific goals or wants for the neighborhood. These goals will be prioritized and ways to achieve these
goals will be discussed.
The RNA NPG proposal is to listen to neighborhood concerns and develop a land use and transportation plan based in part
on the needs and wishes of our residents. The project area encompasses the land at the corner of Lien Road and Thompson Drive
and continues east along the north side of Lien Road toward the Interstate. Any future development in this area will have
a lasting impact and determine the makeup and function of the surrounding area. If you have any suggestions or concerns that
relate to new development, traffic and safety, parks and green space, or public infrastructure, please bring them to the community
meetings. You will not be asked to stand up in front of the group. Your thoughts and suggestions can be written.
The RNA would like to thank the City of Madison, Anchor Bank, Don Simon Homes, Goldleaf Development, Home Depot, Midland
Builders, MG&E, M&I Bank, Oil Equipment Corp., PDQ, T. Wall Properties, Wal-Mart, and the Zeier Family for their generous
support of this project.
Neighborhood Planning Grant Meeting Set for August
By Joe Campana, NPG Project Manager and Drumlin Neighborhood Representative
Madison--The Ridgewood Neighborhood Association's proposal for a Neighborhood Planning Grant (NPG), designed to allow
people to proactively address important planning issues in their neighborhood was given an enthusiastic approval by the city
at a recent meeting. Our proposal scored top with the city and landed the maximum grant of $10,000. The funding is contingent
on RNA raising an equal or greater amount from other sources. So far twelve local businesses/families have pledged financial
support. They are: Anchor Bank, Don Simon Homes, Goldleaf Development, Home Depot, MG&E, Midland Builders, M&I Bank,
Oil Equipment Corp., PDQ Food Stores, T. Wall Properties, Wal-Mart Stores, and the Zeier Family. Additional corporate donors
are still being sought.
The RNA NPG proposal is to listen to neighborhood concerns and develop a plan based in part on the needs and wishes of
our residents. Numerous issues face our neighborhood today. These issues will have a lasting impact and determine the makeup
and function of the surrounding area.
Development along Lien Road, especially between Zeier Road and the interstate is of primary concern. However, the grant
is designed to be more encompassing and several other issues are being studied. If you have any suggestions you should voice
them at a neighborhood meeting to be held on July 30 at the Water Utility on Sycamore Avenue.
The plan's goal will be to offer guidance to the city and future developers interested in the area. A mutually acceptable
plan developed with everyone's involvement will avoid the unfortunate and tumultuous situation we faced a year ago. If the
plan is to be successful, it needs the ideas of many people especially those with a vested interest in the area. This means
you! Even if you don't
have any ideas to contribute it is important to attend the meeting on July 30, just to find out more about the project
and hear what is in store for a lot or a street near you!
What is the NPG? And Why Should You Care?
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| The Corner of Lien Rd. and N. Thompson |
By Joe Campana, RNA Co-Chair and NPG Project Leader--June 10, 2001
Madison--Since last October, a RNA Project Team has been competing for a new city of Madison Program. The neighborhood
Planning Grant (NPG) was designed to allow people to proactively address important planning issues in their neighborhood.
Not only did RNA get a grant, but RNA's proposal scored top with the city and landed the maximum grant of $10,000. The funding
is contingent on RNA raising an equal or greater amount from other sources. So far twelve local businesses/families have
pledged financial support. They are: Anchor Bank, Don Simon Homes, Goldleaf Development, Home Depot, MG&E, Midland Builders,
M&I Bank, Oil Equipment Corp., PDQ Food Stores, T. Wall Properties, Wal-Mart Stores, and the Zeier Family. Additional
corporate donors are still being sought.
The RNA NPG proposal is to listen and develop a plan and it needs your recommendations and suggestions. What is going
to happen along Lien Road? How is it going to affect me? What are they going to build there? How will it affect traffic
and the safety of our neighborhood? How will it affect local schools? The plan will be used to guide the city and future
developers interested in the area. A mutually acceptable plan developed with everyone's involvement will avoid the
unfortunate and tumultuous situation we faced a year ago.
So what can you do? Begin by contacting Joe Campana, the NPG Project Manager. Attend the focus sessions, which will be
announced later this summer. The success of this project and the plan depends on your participation.
A copy of the proposal is available online at http://www.legaleasegroup.com/rna-npg/index.html, or by contacting the project
manager, Joe Campana at 244-4772.
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Jeremy Kautza, RNA Website Committee Chair contributed to this report.
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