Planning staff provided detailed updates on draft Southeast and Southwest area plans during the Dec. 15 meeting, describing extensive public engagement and proposed changes to future land-use maps that focus new mixed-use nodes and increased housing intensity along transit corridors.

Rebecca (planning staff) said the Southeast area has just over 11,000 housing units and about 25,000 residents (roughly 26% identifying as Black, Indigenous or people of color and Hispanic/Latinx per the 2020 census) and summarized a broad engagement program that included outreach events at parks, focus groups, surveys and partnerships with UW programs and community organizations. Staff presented a new "medium residential 1" land-use category intended to fill a gap between low-medium and medium residential categories and give clearer guidance on where middle-scale housing is appropriate.

A central thread of the discussion was uncertainty created by outside transportation studies. Staff noted two outcomes for US 51 (South Stoughton Road) under WisDOT's study: a 45 mph limited-access alternative would likely preserve existing commercial/employment uses, while a 35 mph urban boulevard alternative could support significant mixed-use redevelopment; staff presented a rough "back-of-envelope" scenario that could imply major new development value if the boulevard alternative were chosen.

Commissioners asked about outreach to BIPOC residents and the extent to which the project had met goals for diverse participation. Staff said they had specialized outreach (focus groups, Nina Collective) and events intended to increase participation by historically underrepresented groups, and that they would continue to work to improve reach. Commissioners also asked about public-health assessments tied to converting industrial/commercial areas to residential use; staff said noise pollution near the highway had been considered but a formal health-impact assessment had not been completed and that they could take next steps to coordinate more with public health.

Ben Dellers and others presented the Southwest Area Plan highlights, including new mixed-use node concepts, potential street-mapping updates (Schrader Road, Meadowsuite Drive) and transportation priorities such as shared-use paths and separated bike lanes. Public registrant Charlie Vaughn spoke against a one-way conversion proposal for Worthington Way on traffic and congestion grounds.

Staff said they will compile public comments and commission feedback, produce a full draft plan for referral to boards and commissions in early 2026 and aim to present a final draft to the Common Council in spring 2026.

What happens next: Staff will revise draft actions based on comments and bring a fuller plan narrative for introduction and subsequent referral to boards, committees and Council in early 2026.