Members of the city’s Plan Commission expressed the need to balance the character of the city with development and growth at a meeting Monday regarding Madison’s Downtown Plan, which will determine the face and operation of the city in coming years.

City planner Bill Fruhling presented maps and charts detailing the various sections of Madison that fall under the plan. He added that at this point in the planning phase, the main concern of city agencies is to gather information and recommendations. The final decisions are to come at a later date.

Much of the meeting revolved around the aesthetic features of the city and preservation of views of both the lakes and the Capitol from various points in the city.

“Anytime there are opportunities to make those visible connections to the lake, we should preserve them,” Fruhling said.

Jonathan Cooper, a representative from Capitol Neighborhoods Inc., said he was pleased the plan included language regarding height limitations, lake view vistas and the possible inclusion of third floor and above setbacks on newly constructed buildings to maintain an open view of the Capitol.

Fruhling added much of the current plan is in line with the city’s previous plan, Downtown 2000, which was implemented in 1989.

This meeting was the first of many in addressing various areas of the city. Monday saw the introduction and overview of the Downtown Plan’s ideas for the downtown core, Broom Street and State Street.

Much of the core and Broom Street discussion was centered on the style of buildings that may be constructed in the area. Ald. Julia Kerr, District 13, said many Madison citizens enjoy the lively and engaging new buildings that have gone up around the city as opposed to the more classically styled buildings around the city.

The plans for State Street were addressed without much debate. The street would continue to function in much the same way as it has, Fruhling said.

Kerr took up issue with the number of bars on the street and voiced her concerns as to whether the influx of establishments serving alcohol would force out small businesses, claiming the high returns from alcohol sales allow bars to flourish in the area.

“That is, to me, one of the greatest threats to State Street as a viable shopping district,” Kerr said.

Although the meeting focused primarily on gathering recommendations to compile into a finished Downtown Plan, much of the discussion of the meeting could be characterized as balancing the character of the city with the need for development and growth.

Ald. Michael Schumacher, District 18, said the contentious nature of the plans for the city may be difficult, but ultimately is healthy for Madison. By addressing all of these concerns, he said compromises could be reached and answers found to help the city grow.

“We are experiencing the whole notion that Madison is becoming a hub of a larger metropolitan area, of a Greater Madison area,” Schumacher said. “We need to look beyond the local needs, we need to address the needs of outside sources.”