By Mary Lacy
Northside News
At the Jan. 28 meeting of the Madison Common Council, the Plan Commission recommended approval of a zoning change to the property located at 709 Northport Drive. The previous zoning for the site, home to the Northside Christian Assembly, was SR-C1 (Suburban Residential) and was changed to TR-U1 (Traditional Residential-Urban). The zoning change was approved by the Common Council.
The maximum height for a building in zone SR-C1 is two stories, and density is limited to five units per acre. Zone TR-U1 has a maximum height of five stories and 14–58 dwelling units per acre. The parcel in question is across Northport Drive from Kennedy Heights Townhouses, and adjacent to Mendota Elementary school, a preschool, and some existing multifamily housing.
Threshold Development filed the application for the zoning change. According to the request from the Planning Division, the zoning change is for “future multi-building and institutional development.” The next step, according to a letter of intent from Knothe Bruce Architects, is to submit a Future Land Use application and subdivide the current lot. The church would remain where it is, and the balance of the lot would be used for new multifamily housing.
The Planning Division Staff report states, “The applicant has received a recommendation of funding from the Common Council to facilitate the development of affordable housing at this site. Specifically, the Council approved funding for an 80-unit rental housing development with 48 units being permanently affordable to households with incomes at or below 60% of the County Median Income (CMI).” The latest CMI (2023) is $49,500 for an individual and $88,108 for a household.
When contacted via email, Associate Pastor Isaiah Oby said, “We’re excited about our vision for the site, which includes mixed housing that we believe represents a heavenly diversity in every way. We’re kicking off with family units and have plans to incorporate a senior building and partner with affordable home ownership programs in the future. Additionally, as a church, we are looking to expand our music and multimedia programs, along with our nonprofit law firm. We are confident these expansions will benefit not just our immediate neighbors but the entire north side community.”
