City to hold another public workshop
By Angie Landsverk
When the city of Waupaca’s zoning code is updated, it is expected to address current needs, increase efficiencies and be more user friendly.
“We want to make the code more visually oriented,” said Tom Baron, a principal planner with the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.
He made the comment on April 23, during the city’s second community chat on the topic.
It took place in a Waupaca Area Public Library meeting room.
The commission is assisting the city with the project.
Waupaca’s zoning code dates back to the 1960s.
It is a traditional zoning code, which means it is defined and separates types of uses.
The last time Waupaca’s zoning code had a major update was in 2006.
In January, the city began an initiative to rewrite the code.
A focus on April 23 was to get reactions and responses from those in attendance to images of various buildings they were shown.
The images represented downtown districts; general commercial areas; mixed use developments; manufacturing and business parks; and gateways and destinations.
Among the things people commented on were the colors, variety of building types, materials, windows and vegetation.
Baron said the city wants to move to a more design-based code.
Brennan Kane, the city’s former community and economic development director, said many of today’s zoning codes are about mixed uses.
Library exhibit
Another way people may be part of the process is by visiting the library’s current exhibit.
The exhibit is a partnership between the Community and Economic Developent Department and the public library.
“Our Town, Your Future: Envision Waupaca” is an interactive exhibit to remember the past, celebrate the present and envision the future of Waupaca.
It features historic photos and memorabilia, current plans for redevelopment and an interactive installation with ideas for the community.
People are invited to use a variety of art materials to design their piece of the exhibit.
A picture is then taken of them to make a paper doll to add to their work.
The final workshop in which they may do so is from 6-8 p.m. Monday, May 6.
Located in the library’s lower level, the exhibit is free to the public and open during regular library hours.
It runs through Saturday, May 25.
“That data as well is going to help us and help the city as it moves forward,” Kane said.
The city also plans to hold more community chats.
The process of rewriting the zoning code is expected to take at least a year.