Madison Plan Commission forwards Unified Development Ordinance with four amendments to City Council

The Madison City Plan Commission voted unanimously Feb. 17 to forward a recommendation to City Council to adopt a new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and a converted official zoning map, incorporating four proposed amendments.

Staff and the ordinance consultant described the UDO as the product of an 18-month update process that included eight working committee meetings, public hearings and written comments. “This UDO is a great opportunity for the city of Madison,” the presenter said, describing the rewrite as intended to reduce ambiguity, consolidate zoning rules, modernize use tables and align local regulations with recent state statutes.

The draft before the commission is the 12/30/2025 adoption draft. Staff summarized the principal changes: conversion of legacy districts to new district names (for example, R4→R1, R8→R2, R32→R3), consolidation of several districts (manufactured-home park into R3; professional office and specialty into HDR), a new aviation business district covering airport-owned parcels, and three overlays (flood hazard, historic district and airport protection). The staff presentation also detailed chapter organization, minimum-living-area…