How are you getting zoning so quickly?

Much like the Streetery program for restaurants and bars, the city is allowing us a temporary use while we go through the full zoning process to create another tiny house village like the one we have at 304 N 3rd St.

This is the resolution that the Mayor and Alders Syed Abbas, Grant Foster and Tag Evers are sponsoring that is being introduced at the city council meeting on Tuesday for approval that evening.  (Recommendation in Legistar: RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT UNDER SUSPENSION OF RULES 2.04, 2.05, 2.24, & 2.25 – MISC. ITEMS)

Allowing for the temporary establishment and regulation of a tiny house village at 1901 Aberg Avenue, in order to provide additional shelter to the increasing number of Madison residents experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic and the coldest and most dangerous months of the year.

Here are the rules and regulations that will apply for the temporary use:

this Resolution also establishes the following rules and regulations that will apply to the temporary tiny house village at 1901 Aberg Avenue:

• Occupy Madison, Inc. must provide a 20-foot wide fire lane located in accordance with the fire code as approved by the MadisonFire Department.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. must provide and locate fire extinguishers as approved by the Madison Fire Department.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. shall ensure that each sleeping unit must contain a working smoke alarm.
• If the sleeping units are heated with electric heat, no Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors are required.  If the sleeping units are heated with any other heat source, Occupy Madison, Inc. shall ensure that CO detectors are provided in each sleeping unit.
• If the property is secured by a perimeter fence, the operator must provide the Madison Fire Department with an approved key vault to allow 24/7 access.
• If the property contains a fire ring, the fire ring must be located fifteen (15) feet from all combustibles, buildings, and property lines, and must be covered with a spark arrestor.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. shall provide and regularly empty dumpsters for solid waste disposal, trash and recycling.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. shall ensure that city water is provided from inside the existing principal structure on the property in compliance with building codes.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. shall ensure that the existing principal structure on the property provides at least three (3) women’s toilets (3 stools) and three (3) men’s toilets (2 stools and 1 urinal).  There shall be no on-site compostable or camping toilets.  If necessary, porta-potties may be used to satisfy this requirement while permanent facilities are under construction but must be removed as soon as permanent facilities are available.  Occupy Madison, Inc. must ensure that construction begins as soon as possible.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. shall ensure that the existing principal structure on the property includes functioning handwashing sinks.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. shall ensure that the existing principal structure on the property includes at least one (1) shower for every ten (10) occupants of the tiny house village.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. shall ensure a minimum of ten (10) feet between tiny houses.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. shall ensure there is an emergency telephone accessible at all times for all occupants of the tiny house village.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. shall ensure there is an appropriate registration process for on-site occupants.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. shall ensure that no alcohol or drugs are consumed or possessed on the premises of 1901 Aberg Avenue during its temporary use as a tiny house village.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. shall submit a site plan and operational plan to the Zoning Administrator showing compliance with all of the above requirements. The site plan and operational plan must be approved prior to placing any sleeping units on the property.
• Occupy Madison, Inc. shall ensure that the site complies with all other relevant and applicable ordinances and statutory requirements, including applicable building code, health code, and fire code regulations.

Additionally

• The Madison Fire Department, Public Health Madison Dane County, and the Building Inspection Department shall be allowed to inspect the property in order to ensure initial and continued compliance with the above regulations
• The Madison Fire Department, Public Health Madison Dane County, and the Building Inspection Department may as necessary modify the above rules and regulations
• The above rules and regulations are enforceable by the Madison Fire Department, Public Health Madison Dane County, and Building Inspection Department and citations may be issued, if necessary to achieve compliance with the above regulations, utilizing bail deposits established in M.G.O. § 1.08(3)(b)
• Failure to follow the rules and regulations of this temporary approval could result in the Common Council ending this temporary approval at any time by passing a subsequent Resolution
• Resolution and any approvals allowed pursuant to it will expire on June 1, 2021