MONROE - Parking has once again proved a contentious issue for the Monroe Common Council and some of its constituents as 14 city residents attended the meeting Tuesday to denounce a housing project which would take the place of the parking lot north of the Square along 16th Avenue and 8th Street.
Complaints came largely from members of the Green County Historical Society. Vice President Kay Argue said the removal of a lot with 79 available spots would jeopardize the operation of the historical museum located on 9th Street.
"We are very concerned about this project," Argue said. "Without this lot, there will be virtually no parking. Parking has become a huge issue in Monroe. That lot is a valuable asset."
The project has been proposed by MSP Real Estate. It was denied at the site of the former parking ramp downtown, and then denied again in the current proposed location after the council found the required $1.125 million city contribution to be too expensive. The current proposal cuts the request in half to $615,000.
Director of Development Mark Hammond has said in previous meetings the company would be willing to reserve part of the building's parking lot for museum parking, and possibly reserve roughly a dozen spots along the smaller corridor of parking leading out onto 17th Avenue. Still, historical society members indicated a lack of space could be detrimental to promotional events planned for the summer and planned field trips to the museum.
Member Sherry Anderegg said if housing was a need within the city, she would gladly welcome a project in another part of Monroe.
"If you look around, you'll see the parking lots are full," Anderegg said. "Parking in Monroe is at a premium."
Alderwoman Brooke Bauman, who also serves as the historical society president, indicated parking was an issue the council needed to prioritize over a housing structure. She said the study did not account for the loss of the parking ramp indefinitely and did not consider timed parking.
In the 2015 parking study by Rich and Associates, project managers indicated that if the ramp were to be removed without replacement, the number of parking spaces used on an average day within the downtown area could approach 85 percent of what is available and make it more difficult to park in the area. Project managers also suggested timed parking along the Square as a way to create more turnover, allowing more people to visit downtown businesses.
"If anything happens to it, we can never get that lot back, just like with any lot in the city," Bauman said.
Alderman Ron Marsh agreed with Bauman and criticized the idea of contributing $615,000 to the $6.231 million project as a TID 7 grant.
"It's not a financially good decision," Marsh said.
Director of Public Works Al Gerber said soil borings could be performed on the land to establish what type of development could occur on the space, regardless of the project. He said a company could perform seven borings for $4,500 in which they drill 15 feet into the ground or until drills hit rock. The testing would help establish whether MSP could put in an underground parking structure for the 40-unit apartment building.
Alderman Michael Boyce said he does not support the use of Tax Increment Finance Districts, referring to their existence as inefficient. However, he acknowledged their use is to remain equal in development with other cities of a similar population.
"We can't say no to everything," Boyce said. "Parking is a problem, but so is housing and development. We either use it to compete, or we don't, and this is the type of deal ... that warrants further discussion.
"I'm inclined to say no. I don't think we should say no yet."
Council agreed to consider the soil borings first at the Board of Public Works level before final approval would be made by members.
Complaints came largely from members of the Green County Historical Society. Vice President Kay Argue said the removal of a lot with 79 available spots would jeopardize the operation of the historical museum located on 9th Street.
"We are very concerned about this project," Argue said. "Without this lot, there will be virtually no parking. Parking has become a huge issue in Monroe. That lot is a valuable asset."
The project has been proposed by MSP Real Estate. It was denied at the site of the former parking ramp downtown, and then denied again in the current proposed location after the council found the required $1.125 million city contribution to be too expensive. The current proposal cuts the request in half to $615,000.
Director of Development Mark Hammond has said in previous meetings the company would be willing to reserve part of the building's parking lot for museum parking, and possibly reserve roughly a dozen spots along the smaller corridor of parking leading out onto 17th Avenue. Still, historical society members indicated a lack of space could be detrimental to promotional events planned for the summer and planned field trips to the museum.
Member Sherry Anderegg said if housing was a need within the city, she would gladly welcome a project in another part of Monroe.
"If you look around, you'll see the parking lots are full," Anderegg said. "Parking in Monroe is at a premium."
Alderwoman Brooke Bauman, who also serves as the historical society president, indicated parking was an issue the council needed to prioritize over a housing structure. She said the study did not account for the loss of the parking ramp indefinitely and did not consider timed parking.
In the 2015 parking study by Rich and Associates, project managers indicated that if the ramp were to be removed without replacement, the number of parking spaces used on an average day within the downtown area could approach 85 percent of what is available and make it more difficult to park in the area. Project managers also suggested timed parking along the Square as a way to create more turnover, allowing more people to visit downtown businesses.
"If anything happens to it, we can never get that lot back, just like with any lot in the city," Bauman said.
Alderman Ron Marsh agreed with Bauman and criticized the idea of contributing $615,000 to the $6.231 million project as a TID 7 grant.
"It's not a financially good decision," Marsh said.
Director of Public Works Al Gerber said soil borings could be performed on the land to establish what type of development could occur on the space, regardless of the project. He said a company could perform seven borings for $4,500 in which they drill 15 feet into the ground or until drills hit rock. The testing would help establish whether MSP could put in an underground parking structure for the 40-unit apartment building.
Alderman Michael Boyce said he does not support the use of Tax Increment Finance Districts, referring to their existence as inefficient. However, he acknowledged their use is to remain equal in development with other cities of a similar population.
"We can't say no to everything," Boyce said. "Parking is a problem, but so is housing and development. We either use it to compete, or we don't, and this is the type of deal ... that warrants further discussion.
"I'm inclined to say no. I don't think we should say no yet."
Council agreed to consider the soil borings first at the Board of Public Works level before final approval would be made by members.