Zoning change green-lights east side Honda dealership
The city Plan Commission has given its OK to a new Honda dealership for Wilde Automotive Group of Waukesha on Madison's east side.
Now, it's up to a state hearing examiner to determine if the facility will get built there.
The Plan Commission Monday night narrowly approved a zoning change to allow Wilde to build a $10 million, 45,000-square-foot facility at the intersection of High Crossing Boulevard and Nelson Road.
If constructed, it would provide the first local competition to Zimbrick Honda for the popular and fuel-efficient vehicles.
Zimbrick is protesting in state court a decision by Honda America to award a dealership to Wilde, saying it violates Wisconsin noncompete laws. A hearing has been scheduled for next June, although lawyers for both parties have been meeting privately.
That was not the issue Monday, however, as the plan commission heard from condominium owners in the newly developing neighborhood who said they did not want another auto dealer nearby.
The property has been designated in neighborhood land use plans as office or service space. But those plans have been changed over the years to allow other auto dealers to locate along High Crossing Boulevard.
Mary Jane Krzewina said she bought a condo at Patriot Hill five years ago with the understanding the zoning wouldn't change.
"When I purchased there I knew there could one day be a bank or office building," she told the planning panel. "But an auto dealer is a change that would affect us all greatly."
There are also apartments south of the site, with plans for a mixed-use development, including a new Marcus Theatre, to the north.
But the Wilde project, which could bring up to 125 new jobs, enjoyed the backing of east side Ald. Joe Clausius.
"I have a business on High Crossing and believe me the last thing I would want to do is encourage anything that would be a negative or black mark on the area," said Clausius, an insurance agent.
Honda has been seeking a second dealership in the Madison market, but state dealer laws prohibit competing dealers from entering an established market area. The site under discussion along High Crossing Boulevard is just more than 10 miles from Zimbrick Honda at Fish Hatchery Road and the Beltline.
Wilde projects selling 250 new vehicles and 200 used vehicles per month at its East Towne site.
Pat Donahue of Wilde said the dealer has taken every effort to limit noise and light from the site. The facility would be built in two levels, with service below and a showroom upstairs. The developers said they want to reduce the footprint of the building and make it look less like an auto dealership and more like a retail center.
"We want to be in the city of Madison," he said.
The commission was split on how to proceed. Commissioner James Boll argued for placing the application "on file" -- effectively killing it. He said it failed to comply with the existing zoning, the land use plan and the city's long-range comprehensive plan.
"Neighbors should amend their own land use plans, we shouldn't," he said.
But the project eventually was approved on a 5-3 vote.
"If this was the first auto dealer in this area, I wouldn't have voted for it," said Ald. Lauren Cnare.
Commission member Michael Basford also voted for the Wilde project, noting the land use plans for the Nelson Road area have been amended several times since 1992 to allow more development.
"I don't think another auto dealership here is going to tip it further," he said.
Also Monday night the commission:
- Approved a rezoning for the new Union South at 1308 W. Dayton St. The new 310,000-square-foot Union South would include 60 guest rooms and 190 underground parking spaces. The existing facility, built in 1971, will be razed. Construction is slated for February 2009 with completion expected by February 2011.
- Delayed action until Jan. 26 on a decision to tear down the vacant former Royster-Clark fertilizer plant at 902 Dempsey Road. Owners of the facility were delayed and could not make the meeting.
- Delayed action until Dec. 15 on a proposal for a large day care facility, at 8133 Mansion Hill Ave., in the Midtown Commons development. The project could serve up to 163 children, with 49 surface parking spaces for staff and parents. Some neighbors are opposing the project.
The Madison Plan Commission Monday approved a zoning change for a new $10 million Wilde Honda dealership on the city's east side.
