Fitchburg Parks Commission Meeting - December 4, 2025

The Fitchburg Parks Commission met on December 4, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:28 p.m. The commission unanimously approved the prior meeting minutes, the preliminary plat for No Oaks Ranch LLC, and Resolution R21325 amending the 2025 TID closure excess increment fund budget for Wildwood South Tennis Courts. Public comment addressed the tennis court project and staff reports.

Consent Calendar

• The commission approved the previous meeting minutes by voice vote; the motion carried with no opposition.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Patrick Cheney, a registered citizen, expressed support for rebuilding the Wildwood South Tennis Courts but questioned whether the $47,000 budget amount represented full reconstruction or only resurfacing. He also opposed the planned removal of the McGaw tennis courts, noting that over $1 million has recently been invested in another sport at McGaw Park and urging that the dual-striped tennis/pickleball and archery courts be retained and rebuilt.
• During the staff report discussion, Mr. Cheney praised the written staff reports, observed that only two reports were included in the packet compared with four in the past, and recommended restoring author contact information. He said the recreation report is in transition because recreation has moved to the Community Services and Recreation Department, and staff are discussing how future reports should be structured.

Discussion Items

• Preliminary Plat - No Oaks Ranch LLC: City Planner Deanna Schmidt presented the preliminary plat for a residential and mixed-use development located between the railroad tracks and Highway 14, north of Lacey. The proposal dedicates multiple public outlots, including three parkland outlots: two northern parcels contain most of the desirable trees identified in the tree preservation inventory, and the southern Outlot 11 will serve as the Smart Code-required central gathering park. Other outlots are for stormwater, wetlands, environmental corridor, and a potential future transit station. Phil, representing the development team, said all infrastructure and grading to city specifications would be provided by the developer. The project will be phased over approximately eight to nine years, beginning near Central Park Place. Alder Herbst asked about parkland dedication fees; Deanna Schmidt responded that she expected some fee-in-lieu may be required in addition to park improvement fees per unit. Commissioners praised the tree report and the clustering of green space as one connected natural area. A commissioner also warned the development team to ensure Clean Water Act compliance; Phil said the team takes environmental requirements seriously and works with an ecological consultant.
• Resolution R21325 - Wildwood South Tennis Courts Budget Amendment: The item amends the 2025 TID closure excess increment fund budget for the Wildwood South Tennis Courts. Of the $47,000 total, $40,000 is for project construction and $7,000 is for plans and specifications, construction inspection, and contingency. The scope includes pressure washing, crack and control-joint repair, fiberglass over expansion joints, filling cracks around fence and net posts, footings, acrylic resurfacing, and striping. Sue moved approval, Sarah seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
• Staff Reports and Park Updates: Staff reported that work is ongoing on the McKee Farms ice rink, with pump system difficulties being addressed. The McKee and McGaw pickleball courts have been closed for the season because continued shoveling has damaged court surfaces in past seasons. For future agenda items, a park inventory update is targeted for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2026, with coordination planned with the GIS coordinator. Announcements included last week's well-attended ribbon cutting for the hub project and excitement about the Chicory Meadow tennis court project.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the previous meeting minutes unanimously.
• Approved the preliminary plat for No Oaks Ranch LLC by voice vote.
• Approved Resolution R21325 for the Wildwood South Tennis Courts budget amendment by voice vote.
• Directed that the park inventory update be drafted by the end of Q1 2026 and made searchable through the city's internal GIS mapping system.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for January 8, 2026.