Fitchburg Plan Commission Meeting – February 17, 2026

The Fitchburg Plan Commission met on February 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM (adjourned at 7:44 PM) to consider a conditional use permit, a rezone, a minor PDD amendment, a final plat, two resolutions, and other administrative items. All votes were unanimous by voice vote unless otherwise noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of previous meeting minutes: Moved, seconded, and carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public appearances for non-agenda items were made.

Discussion Items

• Item 5A – Conditional Use Permit for The Hive (5335 Lacey Road): Staff reported that the rezone originally on the agenda was not needed due to an error in the official zoning map; the property is already zoned BG. The proposal is for a culinary collective and event space called “The Hive.” Cafe hours: Wed–Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat–Sun 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; event space available 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Capacity is 50 persons, with no amplified music outdoors. A 25-space parking lot is proposed, requiring removal of trees on the western side; screening and additional tree planting are required. The applicant, Melissa Rushdie (owner/founder), confirmed that no food is prepared on site and that the outbuilding will be renovated while the front house remains a rental. She stated she had a successful neighborhood meeting. Staff recommended approval with 15 conditions. Commissioner noted a typo in condition 4 (hours listed as “until 10 a.m.”) which was corrected as a friendly amendment. Motion to approve conditional use with 15 conditions (amended) carried.
• Item 5B – Rezone for Greenfield Glen (Maple Lawn Heights lot 6): Request by Adam Gorman (agent for Gorman & Company) to rezone from Transitional Agriculture (AT) to High Density Urban (HDU) to allow a 146-unit multifamily development (86 market-rate, 60 affordable units). Public speaker Rob Rudolph (representing DHR Investments and Nichols Electric Construction) raised concerns about visibility, on-street parking, semi-truck access, and construction traffic. Ned Hoyt spoke in support, providing context about prior plans for the site and noting commercial vacancies in the area. Adam Gorman described the project, which includes underground parking (146 stalls) and 50 surface spots, an artist space (3,000 sq ft), and affordable units supported by 9% LIHTC. Staff noted this is the first use of the HDU district and recommended approval with nine conditions. Commissioners praised the unit mix and affordable component. A motion to approve the rezone with nine conditions carried.
• Item 5C – Minor PDD Amendment for Veterinary Clinic (2974 Oshala Drive): Request by Brittany Parksy (agent for McGrath Property Group) to amend the PDD SIP to permit a veterinary clinic/animal hospital use. Staff explained that the existing PDD permits BG uses, but veterinary hospital is not a permitted BG use; this minor amendment would add it. The clinic would be a general practice for dogs and cats, no boarding or training, operating 8 a.m.–5 p.m. with some pickup/drop-off 7 a.m.–7 p.m. The space is adjacent to a pet grooming business. Staff recommended approval as a minor modification. Motion to approve with no conditions carried.
• Item 5D – Final Plat for No Oaks Ranch (First Phase): Request by Michelle Burrus (agent for No Oaks Ranch) to approve a final plat for 15 lots (later revised to three buildable lots plus outlots). Staff noted many conditions (30) and that the applicant submitted an updated plat on Friday but staff had insufficient time to process. The plan includes three large multifamily/mixed-use lots, stormwater/wetland outlots, public open space for potential transit, and parkland dedication. Commissioners expressed concern about the number of outstanding conditions and whether approval was premature given the plat is supposed to be “final.” A motion to postpone to the March meeting carried unanimously.
• Item 5E – Early Issuance of Permits (Home Street Multifamily Development): The applicant requested postponement indefinitely. Motion to postpone carried.
• Item 5F – Resolution R-38-26 (BRT Charging Station): Resolution authorizing commencement of a court action to amend a plat restriction on Outlot 1 in Mickelston’s Woods to allow a bus rapid transit (BRT) charging station. Staff explained the site at Brendan Avenue and McKee would serve as the end-of-line for BRT. Motion to approve with no conditions carried.
• Item 5G – Resolution R-49-26 (Affidavit of Correction): Resolution approving an affidavit to correct a legal description error in a pedestrian/bike path easement on Outlots 40–42 in the 7th Edition of Nine Springs. The easement is needed to connect to future development and a park. Motion to approve carried.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Conditional use for The Hive (Item 5A) with 15 conditions (amended).
• Approved: Rezone for Greenfield Glen (Item 5B) with 9 conditions.
• Approved: Minor PDD amendment for veterinary clinic (Item 5C) with no conditions.
• Postponed: Final Plat for No Oaks Ranch (Item 5D) to the March 2026 meeting.
• Postponed: Early issuance of permits for Home Street development (Item 5E) indefinitely.
• Approved: Resolution R-38-26 (Item 5F) with no conditions.
• Approved: Resolution R-49-26 (Item 5G) with no conditions.
• All votes were unanimous.

Department Reports

• Transportation and Transit Committee: Reported approval of a federal grant for a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan; updates on Fitchrona Road reconstruction delays due to property acquisition; review of 2025 crash data from UW TOPS lab; and planned expansion of Madison Metro bus network in summer 2026.
• Staff Updates: RFP for comprehensive plan update and zoning code update due March 6; zoning code updates for farmland preservation (to meet state certification deadline by end of 2026); minor comp plan amendments accepted until March 17; planning intern hiring underway.

Next Steps

• Staff to process final plat resubmission for No Oaks Ranch; applicant to schedule conditional use permit and architectural design review for Greenfield Glen; corrected condition 4 for The Hive to be recorded; court action for BRT charging station to proceed.