As Milwaukee weighs ending single-family-only zoning, public feedback sought

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The public had an opportunity Monday to weigh in on a plan that would revamp Milwaukee's approach to housing policy.

As part of Mayor Cavalier Johnson's push to bring Milwaukee to one million residents, the Department of City Development (DCD) has begun the process of overhauling the city's zoning ordinances.

The DCD has already drafted a set of recommendations, and over the last two weeks, there have been a pair of public meetings aimed at collecting feedback.

The biggest change would end the practice of having some residential areas limited to only single-family housing. Currently, 40% of Milwaukee's residential land area is currently limited to single-family homes, according to a report the DCD released in October.

At Monday's public hearing, which was held at the Milwaukee Public Library's Good Hope Road location, Tracy Egerson intently read various informational board and scribbled her thoughts on sticky notes.

Egerson, who said she works in banking, was clearly passionate about the subject.

"I've dedicated my life to homeownership, currently with a concentration in Black homeownership and Hispanic homeownership," she said. "So, to me, I eat and breathe this topic."

Egerson said she supported the proposed zoning overhaul because of the value it'd bring for working-class kids. Edgerson said putting more small apartment buildings in the heart of residential neighborhoods would expose those children to successful homeowners at an early age.

"There's something to be said for a low-income family that can see a family that's maybe doing a little better," Egerson said. "The kids can aspire to maybe what they're doing."

Milwaukee's population peaked at 741,300 in 1960, according to U.S. Census records, but has steadily declined since, dipping to 576,300 in 2020.

Sam Leichtling, the city's planning manager, said the proposed changes would bring Milwaukee back to its roots. Leichtling said increasing the number of duplexes, townhouses and accessory dwelling units, known commonly as in-law suits, would allow families to stay together as parents age or as young adults prepare to head out on their own.

"We want to make sure that our zoning codes supports those styles of homes," he said.

Leichtling added the proposed changes wouldn't lead to the development of large multi-family apartment buildings in quiet neighborhoods. Instead, the recommendations suggest too many of Milwaukee's new apartments have been part of large developments. Since 2002, 80% of Milwaukee's new apartment units have come as part of buildings that include 25 or more units.

The drafted recommendations call for allowing duplexes and triplexes in areas currently zoned for single-family housing, while allowing fourplexes in areas zoned for two-family homes.  

"The 'Growing MKE' recommendations aren't about plopping a skyscraper in the middle of a residential neighborhood," Leichtling said. "It's about saying, 'How do we incrementally grow?'"

Egerson said she believed such a change would allow first-time homeowners to also build wealth by becoming first-time landlords.

"That allows for the owners to have passive income in duplexes," she said. "So, you can generate income within your property."

Some of the other recommended changes include no longer requiring new developments to add a minimum number of parking spots tied to the amount of units being added. The draft also calls for ensuring new mixed-use developments emphasize having pedestrian-friendly ground levels. 

Enrique Crespo said he was particularly supportive of those proposed building code changes.

"Having corner stores on the block, a little convenience store under you, so it encourages people to maybe bike, maybe walk," Crespo said. "And therefore interact with the community more."

Monday's meeting followed a similar session last week at the Mitchell Street Library. A virtual meeting is set for Wednesday, and open hours windows are scheduled at eight different libraries through Dec. 19; those times and locations are available here.

Leichtling said the DCD would review the feedback it gets and incorporate it into a final set of recommendations that will go before the Milwaukee Common Council. He said that presentation will likely happen in either the late spring or early summer of 2024.