Eau Claire commissioners warn zoning draft could raise rents, hamper infill

The Housing Opportunities Commission and members of the public told city planners and elected officials that a near-final draft of Eau Claire’s zoning code could unintentionally increase housing costs and discourage infill development. Commissioners and speakers raised specific concerns about required balconies or patios, tree-preservation requirements and garage design standards — changes they say could add tens of thousands of dollars to projects and increase monthly rent.

At a commission meeting, Scott Rogers, vice president of governmental affairs at the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, urged the commission to press for code changes with affordability in mind. “Housing supply and affordability is important to us,” Rogers said, noting the commission’s recent participation in the zoning review process and the need to avoid provisions that raise costs for entry-level buyers and renters.

Why it matters: The draft zoning update is intended to modernize the city’s rules and allow more housing types, but commissioners said some aesthetic and preservation rules may have the opposite effect by increasing development costs and pushing new projects beyond the budgets of workforce and lower-income households.

Commissioners and builders pointed to three code provisions as likely to have the largest near-term cost…