Current ordinance seen as outdated
By Angie Landsverk
The city of Waupaca wants its zoning code to provide more flexibility and opportunities.
“We need feedback so we can create a code that is more user friendly and that works for people who want to develop, build in the community,” said Brennan Kane, the city’s community and economic development director.
On Jan. 16, the city began an initiative to rewrite the code with its first community chat on the topic.
At least three more are planned.
About 20 people attended the first meeting, held in Farmers State Bank’s lower-level community room.
Most represented real estate, banking and local businesses.
Challenges
The city asked what challenges there are with the current code.
Some said businesses feel unwelcome and find the process unfavorable.
Others commented on the length of the review process and said there are too many hoops to jump through.
“The goal is to streamline the process so it gets people through the door quickly,” Kane said.
He understands why people find it challenging.
There are currently 10 to 15 different zoning classifications in the city, Kane said.
“It is difficult to navigate. I’ve been here five years,” he said. “It’s difficult, even from the city perspective. It’s not user friendly.”
Waupaca’s zoning code dates back to the 1960s.
The last time it had a major update was in 2006.
That was before tiny homes and live/work spaces were topics throughout the country.
Rick Wolter spoke to one of them during this month’s community chat.
Two years ago, he and his wife Tammy bought the building at 112 N. Main St., in downtown Waupaca.
They wanted to create a live/work unit on the main level.
“When Rick and Tammy first bought the building, our code did not allow what they wanted to do. They wanted to bring a new idea into the city,” Kane said.
Wolter said they had to do a lot of work to get a zoning change.
Last spring, the common council approved the rezoning of multiple downtown properties from B-2 Central Business District to B-7 Riverfront District.
First-floor living is now allowed on the sides of the buildings facing Cooper Street.
“It took six to eight months. It’s a great example. But unfortunately, it is what the city has had to do because of projects that were not part of the existing zoning code,” Kane said.
Zoning codes
Tom Baron describes the city’s code as outdated, lacking adaptability and showing its age.
He is a principal planner with the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, and is assisting the city with the project.
Many other communities are facing the same situation, he said.
In his experience working with the city, Baron has noticed the city’s staff spends a lot of time helping people understand the code.
The intent of this process is to make things more understandable and efficient, he said.
Waupaca has a traditional or Euclidean zoning code.
This type of zoning started in the early 1900s in the United States, Baron said.
It is very defined, separating different types of use, he said.
A newer type being used in the country is form-based zoning, Baron said.
He said that type is about how a use fits into a community.
It also looks at building design and site layout.
Mixed-use developments – with residential and commercial on the same site – are being seen more in communities, Baron said.
Kane said the city is interested in a hybrid approach that incorporate parts of both Euclidean and form-based zoning.
“There will still be regulations,” he said.
Some said the city’s current design standards hamper new development and increase costs.
The East Gateway has design standards and restrictive covenants, Kane said.
He said the industrial park has five sets of standards he has to look at.
One Realtor believes private developers should determine the design standards, based on the market.
Timeline
Kane said Waupaca’s zoning code rewrite will be comprehensive, and be from Foxfire Golf Course to the city’s east side and industrial park.
“This is a code for the community,” he said.
The goal is to have something people look at and get an easy understanding of how they may develop a property, Baron said.
Kane expects the process to take at least a year.
It includes doing a character study of the city and holding at least three more community chats.
The next one involves teaming up with the library to coincide with an exhibit there about Waupaca’s past, present and future.
The first community chat also included discussion about the approval process and desired outcomes of the rewrite process.
Being able to see the city’s zoning map online and knowing the city’s standards up front were among the comments.
The updated code will include graphic elements.
Allowing the construction of smaller homes on smaller lots was also brought up during that meeting, as was the need to address property maintenance in the city because it affects property values.
The city’s Plan Commission is the steering committee for the zoning code rewrite.
The commission meets at 5:15 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month, in the council chambers.
The council chambers are located in City Hall’s lower level.
Kane said all are “welcome to come, listen and participate as needed. It will be a transparent process.”