Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Washington County spotlights 'Next Generation Housing' to revive small‑lot homes in West Bend
Summary
A WashCo Weekly presenter described the county's Next Generation Housing initiative to allow smaller homes on small lots, citing regulatory costs of $60,000'$80,000 per new house and urging municipalities to relax setbacks and some infrastructure mandates to lower prices and ease financing for local builders.
A presenter on WashCo Weekly outlined Washington County's Next Generation Housing initiative in West Bend on Friday, saying the effort aims to allow smaller homes on small lots to be built again to expand housing opportunities.
The presenter said the program's goal is "allowing for small homes on small lots to be built once again," arguing that narrow lots and short setbacks common in older neighborhoods are now prohibited in many places and that the county is working with "local developers, local builders, local realtors, local title companies, local municipalities" to recreate that housing type.
The segment included specific cost estimates: "Did you know the average new home that's constructed here in Wisconsin and and frankly all all across America has 60 to $80,000 in regulatory cost just to be able to put that house up," the presenter said. Using a $400,000 example, the presenter said as much as "20% of the cost is just government regulations and fees." The presenter argued that larger setbacks and wider rights of way raise per‑house costs across an entire subdivision.
To lower costs, the presenter urged municipalities to reconsider requirements such as wider setbacks, sidewalks on both sides, curb and gutter and 66‑foot rights of way, and said the county is working to ease developer financing barriers that make small‑lot building difficult for local builders and developers.
The presenter framed the proposal as a community benefit: more families would move in, "put more kids in our schools, and that drives down property taxes," they said, and added that denser, modest housing could support workforce development and local businesses.
The segment did not present formal proposals, ordinance numbers, votes or specific municipal code changes; it presented the county's policy direction and outreach effort to partners and municipalities. The presenter closed by inviting viewers to submit questions and to watch future WashCo Weekly episodes.
The county spokesperson'style presentation provided estimates and policy aims but did not cite statutes, detailed financing programs, budget figures or formal municipal actions during the segment.
