Plan commission approves broad zoning changes aimed at easing housing barriers, forwards measure to council

The Green Bay Plan Commission on Monday voted to forward to the City Council a package of amendments to Chapter 44 (zoning) and Chapter 36 (subdivisions) of the Green Bay Municipal Code intended to reduce land‑use barriers to more housing types, including accessory dwelling units and small multifamily buildings.

City of Green Bay Department of Community and Economic Development staff said the package implements direction from the city's 2022 Smart Growth comprehensive plan and the pending 2050 plan update and addresses about 93 code sections in chapters 44 and 36. The commission voted, with all present members saying “aye,” to send the ordinance changes to the Council for consideration on Oct. 21, with minor scrivener corrections noted by staff.

Staff told the commission the revisions are aimed at increasing housing supply and options in established neighborhoods while keeping design protections. Key changes described by staff include: allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) more broadly (not limited to carriage‑house forms), permitting duplexes in single‑family (R‑1) areas rather than requiring a conditional use permit in many cases, adding limited 3‑ and 4‑unit multifamily as a by‑right option in R‑1 and R‑2 zones with design standards, reducing minimum new lot…