Joint Review Board Meeting for City of Fitchburg - June 24, 2026

The Joint Review Board of the City of Fitchburg met on June 24, 2026 at 3:30 PM to consider amendments to Tax Incremental District (TID) 17, review annual reports for multiple TIDs across three school districts (Verona, Oregon, and Madison), and approve an increased cost for bus rapid transit improvements within a half-mile radius of TID 10. All actions were approved unanimously by the board, which includes representatives from the city, county, and each affected school district.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes – Minutes from the November 6, 2025 and May 19, 2026 meetings were approved unanimously. Separate motions were made: first motion by Councilmember Marlowe, second by Laurie; second motion by Adam (county), second by Laurie.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mayor Jeremy Frogby took personal privilege to commend the city on the announcement of a YMCA facility coming to Fitchburg, calling it "a big deal." No other public comments were made.

Discussion Items

TID 17 Amendment (Verona Area School District)

• Greg from Ellers Associates presented the amendment to TID 17, a rehabilitation district created in 2023. The amendment adds approximately 45 acres (the former quarry site) to the district and increases eligible project costs by $25.4 million. The additional costs cover infrastructure improvements and development incentives. The city’s 12% test is estimated at 6.29%, well under the statutory limit. The district is projected to recover all costs by 2034 based on existing and anticipated incremental value, including a retail development ($17.2 million) and a multifamily development ($50 million). The amendment includes minor language changes made by the city council to add bicycle sharing stations and bike/pedestrian improvements. The joint board approved the resolution unanimously.

Annual Reports for Verona Area School District TIDs (TID 9, 17, 18)

• Greg presented annual PA-300 reports and cash flow analyses.
  • TID 9 (industrial district, created 2015): Incremental value as of January 1, 2025: $122.5 million. Fund balance: $6.78 million. Estimated closure: 2036. Development updates: Sub-Zero completed global headquarters; Newcombe building first of five apartment buildings (59 units). The district is healthy, with pay-as-you-go development incentives protecting the TID from shortfalls.
  • TID 17: Newer district with modest activity; amendment just approved; future development includes Chase Bank, Chick-fil-A, Kruka Rush, McDonald’s, a 69,500 sq ft retail center, and a second apartment building (270 units).
  • TID 18 (Commerce & Industrial Park, created 2024): Minimal activity; pending project with General Beverage for warehouse expansion; 50-acre site at Commerce Park and Lacy Road being marketed for industrial/tech use.
• The joint board approved a resolution acknowledging compliance with annual reporting requirements for all three districts (roll call vote: all ayes).

Annual Reports for Oregon School District TIDs (TID 11, 13, 14)

• Greg presented reports for TIDs 11, 13, and 14.
  • TID 11 (clean fill site, created 2018): Modest financial activity; new proposal from Fairchild Development and Populants for "Syncopation" including two multifamily buildings (315 units), a 119-unit Trilogy Health continuum-of-care facility, 30 single-family lots, 40 townhomes, and 12,000 sq ft commercial space. Construction expected to start October 2026.
  • TID 13 (mixed-use, created 2018): Incremental value $40.2 million; modest deficit of $18,900. Development updates: Central Park Place (110 units) fully leased; RLO mixed-use (57 units) opened with Rusty B pop-up market; 40-bed rehabilitation hospital under construction; LEDO apartments (114 units, 10% workforce housing pilot). District projected to close by 2034.
  • TID 14 (mixed-use, created 2022): Incremental value $25.4 million; fund balance $76,200. Developments: Juniper apartments (169 units) opened; Hartongue Fields townhomes (51 units) fully leased; Rowan apartments (210 units) under construction; GG's Playhouse (first Down Syndrome playhouse in U.S.); Uptown Hills (24 townhomes). District supports planned capital investments.
• The joint board approved the annual compliance resolution (roll call: all ayes).

Annual Reports for Madison Metropolitan School District TIDs (TID 10, 12, 16)

• Greg presented reports.
  • TID 10 (rehabilitation, created 2015): Incremental value $144.4 million; fund balance $517,400; projected closure 2037. Cash flow supports existing obligations and planned capital outlays including $1.5 million for Bryant Road and $4.4 million for bus rapid transit (BRT) costs. Development updates: UPS store to build at 2917 Fish Hatchery Road; Bowman Plaza redevelopment (77 units, 11,000 sq ft commercial); new Genesis dealership; potential Plesco project.
  • TID 12 (industrial, created 2018): Incremental value $71.2 million; fund balance ~$3 million. Primary expenditure is Promega Cornberg incentive; district may close a year early. Note: $25 million drop in value due to state personal property tax exemption.
  • TID 16 (Southville, created 2023): Minimal activity; city seeking industrial flex space developers.
• The joint board approved the annual compliance resolution (roll call: all ayes).

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Cost Increase for TID 10 (Madison School District)

• Tim Volker, Director of Public Works, explained that the North-South BRT project’s total cost is ~$170 million (14 miles, 33 stations). Fitchburg’s portion is 1.8 miles with 4.5 stations. Federal funding share dropped from 80% to 70%, and updated construction costs raised Fitchburg’s local share from $1.5 million to $5.7 million. For the half-mile radius of TID 10, the original allocation of $750,000 increased to $2.5 million, requiring joint board approval for an additional $1.758 million. The cash flow analysis for TID 10 confirmed existing incremental value can support the increased expenditure. The joint board approved the resolution unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• TID 17 Amendment (Verona) – Approved unanimously.
• Annual Reports & Compliance Resolutions – Approved unanimously for all three school districts:
  • Verona Area School District (TIDs 9, 17, 18)
  • Oregon School District (TIDs 11, 13, 14)
  • Madison Metropolitan School District (TIDs 10, 12, 16)
• BRT Cost Increase (TID 10 half-mile radius) – Approved unanimously, increasing the expenditure from $750,000 to $2.5 million.
• Meeting adjourned.