Eau Claire housing authority proposes ADU/manufactured‑housing pilot as zoning, tree and park fees could raise costs

At an unofficial meeting of the Housing Opportunities Commission in Eau Claire, Jessica Olson, executive director of the City Housing Authority and housing division manager for the City of Eau Claire, described plans to explore accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and manufactured/modular housing as a way to add one‑ and two‑bedroom rental units for low‑income residents.

Olson said the housing authority owns and operates about 300 rental units and is responding to a long waiting list: “we have over 700 families at this point on our waiting list, and 300 units which are occupied,” and reported that, “as of May … there’s 524 households on our wait list for a 1 bedroom unit.” She described the plans as exploratory and said funding remains the central constraint.

The meeting combined three threads: a recap of the zoning code update and plan commission recommendations, discussion of a proposed tree preservation ordinance and related fee schedule, and Olson’s presentation of possible housing prototypes and financing partnerships. Because the commission did not have a quorum, the session was informal and no formal actions or votes were taken.

Why it matters: zoning changes, tree‑preservation requirements and park impact fees in the draft code would directly affect the cost and feasibility of infill and small‑scale housing. At the same time, the housing authority and the city’s Redevelopment Authority (RDA) are examining options to acquire sites, subsidize development and operate rental units that would remain publicly owned.

Key zoning and fee details Madison, who opened the update for the commission, summarized the plan commission’s recommendation on the zoning code. The plan commission recommended two amendments: allowing garages on two‑, three‑ and four‑unit buildings to project 15 feet in front of the house (matching single‑family garages) and reducing required building‑design elements for some multifamily buildings from three of seven items to two. Staff said any amendments adopted by city council that were not previously reviewed by the plan commission must be returned to the plan commission for…