Commission approves housing project opposed by neighbors

An east side low-income housing project is moving forward despite widespread opposition from neighbors.

The Madison Plan Commission approved a 36-unit apartment complex on Macarthur Road Monday night. The complex is near the intersection of East Washington Avenue and Stoughton Road.

The Care Net Pregnancy Center next door will own the complex.

Liz Osborn, executive director of Care Net, said the facility will better serve Dane County and extend Care Net’s residential program.

Neighbors say the project is too dense and it would more than double the population already living on Macarthur Road.

Commission approves housing project opposed by neighbors

“It’s going to be so big, it’s taller than anything on either side of Stoughton Road, and anything on either side of East Washington. It’s going to be the biggest thing around and it’s going to be intentionally designed to stick out from our suburban neighborhood,” said Sean Phillips, a neighbor to the project.

Members of the plan commission said it was a good project, and the positives outweigh the negatives.

Neighbors said they will continue to fight the project.