Council advances broad zoning changes to encourage 'missing‑middle' housing
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Summary
The council advanced multiple zoning and subdivision amendments aimed at increasing housing options — smaller lots, duplexes and mixed‑use allowances — after stakeholder input from builders, realtors and neighborhood groups. Several measures were amended by council and will return for final reading.
The Green Bay Common Council advanced a package of zoning and subdivision amendments Tuesday intended to ease the production of “missing‑middle” housing — duplexes, triplexes and smaller single‑family lots — and to update rules about mixed‑use corridors and impervious‑surface limits.
Planning staff and development stakeholders said the changes respond to a persistent shortage of housing and to developer interest in building smaller‑footprint units. Jennifer Sunstrom of the Northeast Realtors Association said the administration convened builders, lenders and community groups during drafting and that the proposed code updates reflect those conversations.
Key measures that passed first reading include eased lot‑width and lot‑area minimums in targeted zones, revised duplex permitting and new allowances for mixed‑use residential over ground‑floor commercial in certain commercial corridors (subject to separation distances). Council members debated design standards and a block‑level cap on duplex conversions; amendments were adopted to add additional design guidance and to direct staff to refine some thresholds. The council also amended the impervious‑surface rules for small lots so older lots can reasonably meet development standards, while newer lots remain subject to stricter limits to control drainage and runoff.
Councilors emphasized that changes are intended to broaden options for developers without mandating one‑size‑fits‑all solutions. “We have to substantially change how we do housing,” one stakeholder told the council, pointing to outreach efforts and cross‑sector meetings that informed the draft. Council members asked staff to return with implementation details and design‑standard language to avoid poor‑quality infill.
Next steps: Several items were advanced to second and final reading after council amendments; others were held for further drafting. Staff will bring back refined language and additional mapping, and the council said it expects subsequent required public hearings for final ordinance votes.
