Madison Zoning Reform Creates More Housing Options

The Madison Common Council voted unanimously on July 15 to approve zoning reform proposals that will create more housing options for residents. Darrin Wasniewski from our AARP WI office has worked for months with city leaders to push these proposals forward and we’re thrilled to see them cross the finish line. Here is the testimony that Darrin delivered to the council prior to its vote.

Alders,

My name is Darrin Wasniewski and I reside in district 10. This evening, I represent AARP Wisconsin and speak in support of Legistar items 88735 and 88736 which, in our opinion, supports the development of Middle Housing. In our 2023 report, Discovering and Developing Missing Middle Housing, we outline five reasons AARP supports promoting options in housing:

· Diverse housing options for those wanting smaller units and yards.
· Affordability by design when housing costs are spread over more units.
· Smart land use and sustainability because Middle Housing can be focused in areas already supported by city infrastructure.
· Equity and homeownership in instances where smaller units are built, or rental income can help support housing costs.
· Aging in place through downsizing options.

Every few years AARP conducts its Home and Community Preference survey where we ask our members their experience with livability in their homes and communities. From the earlier versions to the most recent in December 2024, our members have expressed an overwhelming desire to remain in their homes, and at least their communities, as they age, but less than half believe that’s possible, although 71 percent believe their community is poised to meet their needs as they grow older.

Let’s let that sink in for a moment. People wish to stay and they believe their community will meet their needs, but they don’t believe their current home or community is equipped to do so due to lack of housing choice. Exploring further we find that sixty percent of respondents indicate that they would consider moving to lower housing costs and be in a place that’s easier to maintain. Again, we’ve built our communities, we’ve built Madison, in a fashion that limits housing choice.

I shared with our members in a recent e-mail about my experience talking with neighbors in Hill Farms. By all accounts, this is a textbook community to grow older in- walkable streets with access to shopping and groceries, access to BRT for when you need to go further and cannot drive, and a great sense of community. They all recognized these benefits, but they also were aware of a big barrier to making this so. The homes they raised their families in were too large, or not designed for accessibility, and there are no other choices for them to downsize into while remaining rooted in their community.

In AARP’s publication, Expanding Middle Housing Options- A Guide to Local Middle Housing Regulations, reviews case studies of communities across the country and provides suggestions for local regulation to promote housing choice. The guide offers principles to keep in mind when developing housing regulations – Allow broadly, exclude narrowly and Distribute equitably to expand opportunity.

We applaud the mayor and staff for developing proposals that capture the spirit of these principles. By allowing duplexes “by-right” across the city and flag lots, where applicable, Madison is working toward providing its residents housing choices.