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Middleton adopts resolution to attract commercial and industrial development; council discusses incentives and workshops
Summary
Council adopted Resolution 513-24 to signal intent to increase commercial and industrial development and discussed possible fee waivers, tax incentives and public workshops to identify barriers to business growth.
The Middleton City Council adopted Resolution 513-24 on Dec. 18, proclaiming the city’s intent to increase the number of commercial and industrial businesses within city limits. Councilmembers also discussed possible incentives and community workshops to identify and resolve barriers facing businesses.
Councilman Bury presented the resolution, saying Middleton has a “severe lack of commercial and industrial” property and that the current tax burden falls heavily on residential property owners. “This is my attempt to let commercial and industrial developers know that we understand the value that they bring to a community and that we want them here,” Bury said.
Nut graf: Council approved the resolution unanimously and discussed follow-on options including temporary impact-fee relief, tax-increment-like incentives, and two proposed workshops—one for current Middleton businesses and one for outside business owners—to gather candid feedback on development obstacles.
Incentives and next steps: Council members raised the possibility of a moratorium or temporary relief on impact fees for certain commercial or industrial projects and asked the city attorney to analyze legal parameters. Council member Murray suggested exploring tax-incentive models and fee waivers used elsewhere; another councilmember proposed two workshops to solicit input from local and external businesses about specific barriers. The council agreed staff should research legal avenues for incentives, impacts on infrastructure funding (sewer, water, traffic mitigation) and whether any relief could be targeted to industrial versus commercial uses.
Vote: Councilman Bury moved to adopt Resolution 513-24; the motion was seconded, put to a voice vote and carried. Staff and council members agreed to follow up with research and to consider outreach and a press release after the holidays.
Next steps: Staff will consult the city attorney about potential moratoria or fee relief, research incentive models (including staged tax breaks) and plan the proposed workshops; a press release on the resolution may follow after the holiday period.
