Planner presents Envision Verona state‑of‑community report; transportation, downtown and housing top concerns

Planning staff presented the Phase 1 "State of the Community" report for the city’s comprehensive plan rewrite, Envision Verona, and described outreach results and next steps on Aug. 4.

Planner Lisonbee said the phase focused on learning how the community views Verona today and envisions its future over the next 10 to 30 years. The public outreach summary posted on the project website includes three methods for input: a survey, an interactive web map, and posted comments. Lisonbee said the project received 758 completed surveys, 589 map pins and 1,078 posted comments; he also noted a map of roughly 1,600 comments shown in the presentation that aggregated different input types.

Lisonbee told the commission the top themes identified so far are transportation and mobility (including the Verona‑Maine intersection), parks, recreation and community spaces, downtown businesses and vibrancy, and housing and development, particularly concerns about affordability and a desire for housing options that allow residents to remain in the community through different life stages.

He noted that many respondents supported expanded bus and transit service and that trails are viewed as an asset, while concerns include on‑street bike and pedestrian safety and seasonal amenities such as lighting and restrooms in parks. On housing, Lisonbee said growth has produced many multifamily units and that roughly half of Verona’s housing stock was built in the last 25 years; median income is rising and household sizes are trending smaller.

Commissioners discussed next steps. Lisonbee said the project is entering Phase 2, during which staff and the consultant team will develop strategies and recommendations, present them to the task force, and host a second open house in the fall before returning a draft plan to the Planning Commission and then to the Common Council for adoption. Several commissioners emphasized that the plan should provide actionable guidance for evaluating proposed developments in areas where utilities and infrastructure make growth likely, particularly the city’s east side.

Commissioner Henkard stressed that the plan should help commissioners respond to questions from residents about specific development proposals. Commissioner Powers noted conflicting public comments (for example, “avoid sprawl” vs. “preserve character”) and said she wants examples of how other cities balanced competing goals. Commissioner Harrison and other commissioners urged including provisions now—rather than retrofitting later—for multimodal infrastructure (protected bike lanes, sidewalks) when planning growth so those elements are feasible as development occurs.

No formal vote was taken; staff will continue work with the consultant team and the task force toward the fall open house and subsequent plan review by the Planning Commission and Common Council.