Madison’s City Council advanced the Madison LakeWay project at its meeting Tuesday night, voting to bypass a city ordinance that would have required voters to approve the first phase of construction.
The project aims to eventually create a waterfront park district covering 1.7 miles and 17 acres of Lake Monona shoreline downtown. Planners also hope to pay homage to the Ho-Chunk people, whose indigenous land is now the city of Madison.
The City Council voted to exempt the project from Madison’s longstanding law that mandates voter approval of decisions related to major construction in open spaces like beaches and parks…