Local

Chek out some of the fun with these pictures from throughout the weekend, starting off with family fun might.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–Two residents were honored Monday with the “Friend of the Town” award for their efforts on behalf of the Town of Middleton’s safety and municipal operations.

Dr. Beth Neary, a pediatrician, was made a co-friend for 2023 for her efforts to inform and educate the town board and residents on the harmful effects of lead exposure to children, said Town Chair Cynthia Richson.

Neary proved to be a valuable resource as Richson began to dig into the impact on residents and schoolchildren from airborne lead emissions emanating from the exhaust of airplanes using leaded aviation gas at Middleton Municipal Airport-Morey Field.

“It was a pleasure to work with Cynthia whose an advocate for health care,” Neary told the board Monday.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council approved a $12 million developer financed TIF agreement and city/developer agreement for phase one of a planned neighborhood of development with health, wellness and sustainability aspects integrated throughout the project at 4887 Parmenter St. north of Graber Pond.

The general implementation plan (GIP) for the first phase of the Belle Farm development was approved by the common council in late 2021. The proposal calls for four phases of development and a possible fifth phase based on market conditions when the earlier phases are completed.

The plan includes construction of 730 multifamily units and 150 single family homes across 44 acres with a variety of housing types including apartments, condos and townhomes and single-family homes ranging from carriage homes, cottage homes, and nest cottages to shotgun homes and estate houses with up to 3,000 square feet. 

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton has announced the following cooling centers will be available as heat and humidity is anticipated throughout the week.

Cooling Centers:

Middleton Police Department, 7341 Donna Dr. (24 hours daily)

Middleton City Hall, 7426 Hubbard Ave. (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m.)

Middleton Senior Center, 7448 Hubbard Ave. (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)

Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave. (Mon-Thurs 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Middleton Fire Department located at 7600 University Avenue (24 hours daily) 

Extremely high or unusually hot temperatures coupled with high humidity can have serious effects on health, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Here are some important precautions you should take to avoid serious health consequences related to this extreme heat:

MADISON–Administrative Law Judge Dave Albino has issued a proposed final decision on a pedestrian railroad crossing, known as the Aurora Crossing, which links Middleton Center Phase I and Phase II at Aurora Street in downtown Middleton. Before a final decision is made, the public will have a chance to weigh in on the subject through public comment period.

There has been debate between the city and Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR) for the past several years regarding whether the right of way where the path crosses the railroad tracks is public or private property. 

The area was established as a public crossing in 1981 by the Transportation Commission of Wisconsin. The city purchased the land that the crossing sits on in 1982 from Middleton Farmers’ Coop and began improvements to the area.

MIDDLETON–Dane County and the City of Middleton announced that the Pheasant Branch Conservancy Corridor Trail repairs are complete after severe flooding in 2018 demolished sections of trail and bridges. The city and county celebrated the reopening on Aug. 10.

"We're so excited to have the Corridor Creek Trail open again and more resilient to future storm events," said Middleton Mayor Emily Kuhn. "We appreciate everyone's patience while the trail was closed and look forward to welcoming everyone back to this outdoor attraction.”

The Pheasant Branch Creek Conservancy consists of more than 300 acres of upland oak savanna and lowland wetland prairie. It is known for its shady trails, wooden footbridges and river steppingstones. The conservancy and trail has about 30,000 visitors a year.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–Eighteen months into its contract with Pellitteri Waste Systems, the Town Board last week approved a long-term extension with the locally-owned firm.

Under the approved contract extension to 2031, the town would pay $17.20 per household for weekly trash and recycling pickup, which is $1 per household more than specified in the current five-year contract it approved in 2021.

Based on a static 2,417 households, the number of households the company currently services, the contract would yield $156,573 in savings by 2031 in contrast to the charges included in the initial five-year contract, according to Pellitteri.

The extension continues the same services and conditions, including large item pickup, which requires residents to contact Pellitteri in advance and prepay for the service.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission set a public hearing for Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. for an amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan. The proposed amendment would be the second since the plan was overhauled in early 2021.

A city’s comprehensive plan establishes a long-term growth framework with broad policy recommendations and urban development strategies. The second amendment would include several changes that shift the city’s development strategies and reflect changing community goals. 

Changes to the plan include:

Create and adopt a University Avenue Corridor Plan to encourage increased densities, cross access and parking easements to bring the corridor to a more human scale, increase walkability and establish a less auto centric focus along the thoroughfare. The University Avenue Corridor Plan was adopted by the council on May 3, 2022.

The Middleton Police Department and EMS competed against the Middleton Fire District in the annual Battle of the Badges softball game and fundraiser at Firefighter’s Memorial Park. The morning of Aug. 12 started with a 5k run, followed by the game and silent auction. This year’s honoree is Jesus Carranza Saldana who was diagnosed with high-risk B-cell Leukemia. Carranza Saldana is currently recieveing treatment.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission approved a rezoning request and general building plan for a seven-story, mixed-use building in Greenway Center. The plan commission also reviewed and provided feedback on a conceptual proposal for a 12-story residential building in Greenway and a six-story, mixed-use building on Allen Boulevard.

The rezoning request and general implementation plan recommended for approval by the common council calls for a demolition of the existing two office buildings (the Ponds Buildings) at 8309 and 8313 Greenway Blvd. and construction of a seven-story mixed-use building. The project would include five stories of residential units above two stories of parking and commercial space. There would be 249 total residential units, 4,800 square feet of commercial/retail space, and 353 parking spaces. All the parking would be covered and there will be no surface level parking stalls.