Corridor Planning

Brad Hinkfuss, Anne Walker, Bill White, Tri-Chairs
Lou Host-Jablonski
Catherine Stephens
Donna Magdalina
Jonathan Garber
Grant Foster
Chuck Strawser
Rich Kedzior
Larry Jensen
Marsha Rummel
Tim Anderson
Tom Lynch
James LaGro
Steve Gaffield

A committee of the Schenk Atwood Starkweather Yahara Neighborhood Association

Committee Charge: The Winnebago-Atwood Corridor Planning Committee (Winn-At Corridor Committee) will actively engage the City of Madison staff, planning professionals and SASY residents to create a planning process that will help guide the street reconstruction projects scheduled to occur on Winnebago St, Atwood Ave and the adjacent streets from 2015-18.

Goal #1: Promote knowledge of the reconstruction projects and the planning process among neighborhood residents

Building earlier knowledge of these projects, and providing opportunities for feedback, will increase neighborhood support and minimize construction hardships.

Goal #2: Synthesize professional planning efforts and resident feedback

The time available before some of the reconstruction projects start will not allow for a
conventional planning process. Therefore, the early stage of this process will seek to
synthesize the input of professional planners, City staff and committee members to
create a number of options that can then be brought before the larger neighborhood in
public meetings.

Goal #3: Build a strong sense of place through planning and implementation of specific ideas born out of the planning process

Building on the early efforts of neighborhood residents, the committee adopts the
following statement of principles:

Statement of Principles

The corridors bounded by Winnebago Street and Atwood Avenue from the Yahara River to Olbrich Gardens provide vital transportation, community and cultural links on the East side of the City of Madison. The reconstruction projects scheduled for 2015-2018 for Winnebago Street from the river to Union Corners and for Atwood Avenue from Schenks Corners through approximately Fair Oaks Avenue to Walter Street provides a wonderful opportunity to create a sense of “place” for enhancement of this community. With the idea of intentionally creating a strong sense of Place, the following topics should be explored and included:

1Adequate automobile transportation links from parts of Madison and its environs to and through the Winn-At District.
The early involvement of planning staff to foster holistic designs that integrate engineering, business and neighborhood interests.
Viewing the design and function of the various street reconstruction projects as part of an integrated whole to be planned in unison.
Planning and design efforts must be strategic in the sense that they favor “lighter, quicker, cheaper” approaches over more traditional comprehensive planning approaches.
Improve the flow, design and safety of the vital automobile transportation links from parts of Madison and its environs to and through the Winn-At District.
Creation of multi-modal transportation options to expand and improve multimodal transportation links.
The creation and/or provision of parking adequate to support the business community.
The creation of Urban Green Space to mitigate hardscape impacts, and the use of storm water infiltration and retention to ensure the health of these spaces. Ensure that adequate parking is available which does not dominate the street but allows for access into and from the District.
Creation and integration of thematic aesthetic items including, but not limited to, lighting design, design objectives for new construction, enhanced use of multi-modal transportation options, etc.
Use of park and open space for periodic celebrations, bazaars, and celebrations.
Partnership with adjacent neighborhood associations that have a vested interest in the design and features of the common transportation corridors.
Preexisting neighborhood plans should be consulted to acknowledge and draw upon the earlier planning efforts.
Ensure the open and inclusive nature of all planning efforts through periodic open public forums.

*Approved at 11 April 2013 SASY Council meeting

Further Reading

Maya Lea Capstone – Creative Placemaking.

At the first corridor planning meeting with the Mayor, he recommended the SASY corridor planning committee read and devour everything on the People for Public Places (PPS) website and check out William H. Whyte’s book called “City,” as Whyte is the grandfather of placemaking. The library has two copies of the book.

There are three booklets from People for Public Spaces that we find especially helpful for our corridor planning. All three are available as free downloads. The first and third books are available for sale on the PPS website for $15/each. If you download and pay for color printing, it will cost about $50 to print so purchasing the books is cheaper and it’s much nicer to read from the bound book. There is a link on each page to click for the free download: