Plan Commission approves zoning tweaks to ease single‑family upgrades, ADUs and small infill

The Madison Plan Commission unanimously recommended that the Common Council approve a package of zoning text amendments on Feb. 17 designed to make modest changes to single‑family and small residential infill rules, including rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Planning staff said the changes address regulatory obstacles staff encounters while administering the zoning code. Katie Bannon, the city zoning administrator, described six principal changes: (1) modify the attached‑garage facade requirement (replace a strict 2‑foot recessed requirement with a more flexible allowance so garage doors may extend up to 4 feet forward of the remainder of the facade while retaining a 50% maximum garage‑door width rule); (2) allow open porches to encroach up to 3 feet into required side yards so side‑oriented porches can be practical; (3) eliminate a one‑foot difference in required side setbacks between one‑story and taller buildings so setbacks are…