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Middleton CDA and Workforce Housing committees endorse housing action plan, send recommendation to Common Council
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Summary
After reviewing outreach results and discussing allowable uses of funds and sustainability, the Community Development Authority and Workforce Housing committee voted to forward Middleton’s Housing Action Plan to the Common Council for consideration on April 7.
The Community Development Authority (CDA) and the Workforce Housing Committee of Middleton voted to endorse the city’s draft Housing Action Plan and will forward recommendations to the Common Council for its April 7 meeting.
Scott Hickel, a city staff member who presented outreach findings, told the committees the project team held two open houses, ran an online survey and staffed pop-up events at the library and senior center. "In total, 85% of people agreed the housing action plan will move Middleton in the right direction on housing," Hickel said, summarizing resident feedback and noting particular strength of support for funding supportive services and increasing units affordable to low- and moderate-income households.
Committee members spent much of the discussion probing how funds could be used. Members referenced comments from Smart Growth Madison questioning whether the relevant statute allows using the city’s housing funds for supportive services rather than solely for new construction. "My reading of the statutes is that it's intended to be used for affordable housing," Hickel said, adding that he knows other municipalities use similar funds for services. Lisa, a committee member, said the language in state statute is "surprisingly vague" and recommended the city attorney review the text and that the committee consider qualifying language in the plan if needed.
Members also debated how to preserve the fund over time. One committee member proposed limiting supportive-service spending to no more than 25% of the fund to maintain a larger rotating loan or revolving loan fund; others cautioned against setting strict percentage caps now and urged the next council to further refine priorities. Lisa noted that Middleton currently holds about $10,000,000 intended for affordable housing actions, and several members said they want to preserve flexibility to both build housing and support residents once housed.
Staff described edits made after earlier council and plan commission review: added context about the planning process, Middleton-specific background data (including a review of permitted units from 2020–2025), a public-facing clarification renaming "gap financing" to "revolving loan fund," and a trimmed appendix (keeping an internal list of other actions).
A CDA member moved to recommend the plan to the Common Council with the changes discussed; a committee member seconded. The CDA voted by voice and the motion carried. The Workforce Housing committee separately moved and seconded a recommendation to the Common Council; that motion also passed by voice. The transcript records the motions and that each "motion carries," but a roll-call tally was not recorded in the meeting record provided.
The committees agreed next steps: staff will transmit the endorsed plan and edits to the Common Council for its April 7 consideration; staff will also ask the city attorney to review statutory questions raised about allowable uses. Committee members discussed a possible one-year transition period for merging the two committees and said mayoral appointments and council confirmation would govern membership during that process.
The council meeting is scheduled for April 7 at 7 p.m.; public comments occur at the start of the meeting. The committees adjourned after completing the agenda.
