Plan Commission approves removal of rooftop solar from UW Health���University Row parking design

The Madison Plan Commission voted March 2 to approve an alteration to the plan development for 750 University Row that removes a previously proposed rooftop solar collector canopy from a parking structure serving an expanded UW Health clinic.

Planner Tim Parks told commissioners that while the staff found removal of the solar collectors "regrettable," the panels were not a requirement for meeting plan development standards and the commission could approve the alteration following public comment and the conditions in the staff report.

Matt Fair, UW Health's local government relations director, told the commission that economic and policy conditions have changed since the project's 2024 approval. "Costs increase are volatile and unpredictable and... federal energy efficiency subsidies have been pulled back," Fair said, adding that the solar canopy would carry a long payback period that makes it impractical for this project.

Architect Jenny Eschner said the project team continues to pursue other sustainability measures: the project will seek LEED certification, include green roofs, EV charging, bike parking and shower facilities. She also told the commission the parking structure is structurally designed to support a future solar system if economics make it feasible later.

Some commissioners expressed disappointment but agreed staff was correct that the original approval would not have hinged on the solar canopy. Commissioner McHale said she would vote against the alteration and warned about precedent: "Transportation is the largest source of emissions," she said, arguing that removing solar after approval weakens mitigation expectations.

Alder Ugar moved to find the proposed alteration consistent with the previously approved specific implementation plan and to approve the revised parking-structure plans subject to conditions; Alder Glenn seconded. The commission approved the motion in a roll-call vote with one commissioner recorded as voting no.

The approved alteration allows construction to continue without the rooftop solar canopy; staff and the project team said the garage was designed to support retrofitting solar at a later date should financing and policy incentives become favorable.