MORGAN COUNTY
At its first 2023 meeting, the Madison City Council approved a map amendment that will allow Amici to add a bakery to offices it plans to use on Park Street as the business grows and the chain expands.
Owner Mike Torino said Amici wanted to prepare pizza dough in the ground floor area of the eastern building.
He said training for employees would be conducted in the building which already falls under the permitted uses under the zoning ordinance.
According to the material on the Madison website, “the building in question has sat undeveloped since rezoned in 2007. Expected delivery and pick-up will be with panel vans or similar-sized vehicles. The western building was approved for residential units, and these have been completed and are occupied. All owners of those units have authorized this request to go forward as required.
Minimal exterior changes to earlier approved plans are being considered and are planned to be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC).”
The Madison Planning and Zoning board reviewed Torino’s request on Dec. 15 and voted unanimously to approve it. Questions were raised about the bakery’s impact, but Torino said the number of regular employees would be less than is currently allowed under zoning.
He also said the kitchen is expected to be small and dough-making produces little odor.
Councilman Eric Joyce made the motion to approve the request with five additions recommended by the planning staff, including a requirement that the bakery not be open to the general public and is an accessory used to an office; the bakery will be allowed to train employees and test recipes as needed to support the business; a vehicle used for delivery shall be limited to panel vans and similarly sized vehicles, and no delivery by tractor trailer is allowed; any exterior changes will need to be approved by the HPC; and that the bakery be limited to the eastern building.
Joyce, who lives nearby, said he had spoken with residents in the area and none expressed opposition to the bakery’s location on Park Street.
“Amici has been such an important part of our municipal improvement, that I’m glad we’re able to help them accomplish some of their goals,” Joyce said. “I’m pleased to support this measure.”
Council also voted to enter into a lease agreement to obtain a new Wittke Sanitation Truck at a total cost of $329,539.43 financed through a GMA process. Finance officer Karen Stapp said the last time the city acquired a new garbage truck was in 2018.