Muskego mayor unveils first draft of 2035 comprehensive plan to council

The Muskego mayor presented the first draft of the city’s 2035 comprehensive plan to the common council on Dec. 16, saying the document was given to elected officials first and would be posted on the city website the following morning.

“Assuming there's no issues from the council, my plan…is to tomorrow at some point have this on the website because we want it's the public's plan,” Adam, a community development staff member, told the council as he explained the packet. He said the document is intended as an update to the 2020 plan, with more graphics, maps and data to make it “more palatable” for residents and useful for development decisions.

Adam said the draft contains roughly 20 maps and statutory data required for future land-use and rezoning decisions, and that the public participation plan and required public hearing steps will be followed before final adoption. The mayor and staff repeatedly emphasized the comp plan is “a guide,” not zoning: compliance with the plan is a statutory consideration for rezoning requests but the plan itself does not rezone property.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the plan’s purpose and statutory role. Alderman Decker asked whether the plan functions as a roadmap for growth; Adam replied it is sometimes called a master plan and that developers and officials frequently consult its future land-use map when evaluating rezoning proposals.

The mayor said staff will refine a few map images for appearance only and that the data and content will remain unless the council or other bodies direct changes. He asked council members and the public to send questions or feedback to Adam or Aaron in the community development department during the public review period.

The city will follow state statutes and its public participation plan when scheduling public information meetings and a public hearing early in the new year.