The Sconi

The state of Wisconsin is introducing a new tool aimed at addressing the affordable housing crisis. The initiative, called "Enabling Better Places: A User’s Guide to Neighborhood Affordability," focuses on making small changes to zoning codes that could have a significant impact on the development of affordable housing across the state.

The guide provides local policymakers with options to adjust their zoning codes and remove regulatory barriers that currently restrict the housing market. Outdated local zoning regulations have been identified as obstacles to developing workforce and "missing middle" housing. The challenge has often been the complexity involved in rewriting zoning codes.

Several organizations have collaborated on this project, including the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Realtors Association, Wisconsin Builders Association, AARP-Wisconsin, Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), NAIOP Wisconsin, and the American Planning Association – Wisconsin. They partnered with the Center on the New Urbanism (CNU) to research and create this guide for municipalities in Wisconsin.

"The Guide is a great example of public-private cooperation," said Jerry Deschane, Executive Director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. He emphasized that both housing industry leaders and local government officials recognize widespread housing shortages in communities across Wisconsin. Deschane believes that this collaborative approach will yield better results than a uniform legislative mandate.

The guide has been under development since spring 2021. Experts from CNU consulted with local officials in several cities including Eau Claire, Horicon, Ripon, Waukesha, and Waunakee to assess how their zoning codes affected affordable housing development. These case studies informed an initial draft of the guide.

Rick Cole, Executive Director of CNU, expressed satisfaction with their involvement in creating this resource for communities throughout Wisconsin. "Congress for the New Urbanism is always working to help places become livelier, more walkable, and especially more hospitable to wider housing choices," he said.

Brad Boycks, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Builders Association, highlighted members' eagerness to collaborate with local governments statewide to update outdated zoning regulations. He stated that enacting concepts from the guide would provide greater flexibility for offering diverse housing options to families in Wisconsin.

Christina FitzPatrick from AARP-Wisconsin noted that many Americans lack access to suitable housing as they age due to outdated perceptions about denser living arrangements. She praised collaboration efforts aimed at understanding current conditions in Wisconsin and finding solutions for its housing challenges.

Jim Villa, CEO of NAIOP Wisconsin, stressed that increasing available workforce housing is crucial for economic growth in the state.

The guide suggests several code changes such as allowing multi-unit housing in single-family zones traditionally reserved for two-family or multifamily dwellings; realigning lot dimensions; reducing setbacks; permitting accessory dwellings by right; allowing residential uses within commercial districts; eliminating parking minimums; and streamlining subdivision processes among others.