Last week, a special Madison Plan Commission meeting took up examining exactly what the Urban Design Commission does…with muddled results.
The city of Madison has eight urban design districts, most of them located downtown or in high-traffic areas. The Urban Design Commission (or UDC) is an advisory board for the Plan Commission and is tasked with reviewing developments in those districts with an eye on cohesive, pedestrian-friendly design.
Last Thursday, the UDC presented a code update to Madison’s Plan Commission. They focused on topics such as consistent aesthetics and design elements for new buildings in urban planning, as well as design goals for the enjoyment of the general public…