Shorewood plan commission votes to recommend allowing up to four unrelated adults per household

The Village of Shorewood Plan Commission voted to recommend that the village modify its municipal code to allow up to four unrelated adults to share a single household, and directed staff to draft code edits for Plan Commission review. The recommendation passed on a 6–1 vote at the commission meeting that began at 6:30 p.m.

The change would alter the village’s current household definition, which limits most household configurations to no more than three unrelated adults; the commission instructed staff to reword the code for clarity and to confirm consistent use of the term “household” throughout the municipal code. Commissioner Klein made the motion: “I move to recommend that the village modify its current definition of household to allow up to 4 unrelated individuals, and direct staff to consider rewording for clarity and confirm consistency of the use of household code, drafting all necessary updates for plan commission review.” Commissioner Pollock seconded the motion.

Planning staff framed the discussion by reviewing how other Wisconsin communities handle unrelated-occupant limits: Wauwatosa generally allows up to four unrelated individuals in a household, Madison (a college city) allows up to five unrelated individuals plus dependents, and Milwaukee’s zoning and enforcement codes use different language and are enforced inconsistently, staff said. The staff presentation also noted that the village’s household definition was last substantively updated several decades ago and that the municipality currently references state statutory categories for community living arrangements, foster homes and adult family homes.

Several commissioners voiced concerns about density and potential landlord behavior if limits were loosened. Trustee McGovern and Commissioner Klein said they supported increasing the cap to four to ease housing constraints. Commissioner Wicklund said she preferred keeping the limit at three, citing worries about density and “rooming house” conversions; that concern is reflected in the single dissenting vote. Director of planning staff said any draft ordinance would return to the Plan Commission for review, then proceed to broader public engagement and eventual public hearing before the Village Board.

The motion directs staff to draft specific code language and confirm cross-references for review by the Plan Commission; it does not itself change the municipal code. Staff indicated public engagement would be scheduled before the Village Board public hearing, with a tentative target of fall outreach and a formal return to the commission for review of the drafted ordinance.