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Waunakee board backs applying for Dane County pro-housing grant to fund zoning fixes
Summary
Village staff asked for and received board backing to submit a Dane County CDBG pro-housing grant application to fund targeted zoning-code amendments (lot size, density, zero-lot-line and expanded staff approvals). Staff anticipates requesting about $20,000 for consultant outreach and code edits.
Waunakee planning staff told the Village Board they will apply for a Dane County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) pro-housing award to pay for targeted zoning-code reforms aimed at easing barriers to modest multiunit housing.
The proposed application would pursue the program’s phase one funding, which covers zoning-code changes and public outreach. Staff identified items that could be quick, high-impact fixes — updating lot-size and density rules, revising a zero-lot-line requirement and exploring expanded administrative approvals so certain housing types (for example duplexes) could be approved by staff rather than through a full public process. Lauren, the planning staff member leading the work, said the village plans a full zoning rewrite in 2027 after the comprehensive plan is complete and wants to avoid jumping ahead; the grant would pay a consultant to draft amendments, run outreach and present changes to the plan commission and board.
"This is not the village coming in saying we're going to demolish Village Mall," Lauren said, describing the effort as visioning tied to property-owner inquiries and redevelopment scenarios, not a precommitment to buy or raze downtown property.
Board members generally supported applying. Trustee Nyla Fry said timing is right, and others noted the current zoning largely dates to 1997 and creates staff workload inefficiencies that code updates could address. Staff estimated a county grant request of around $20,000 to cover consultant work and public engagement.
Staff will finalize the application, due April 24, and return with any required approvals or additional detail. If funded, the work would inform the village’s 2027 code rewrite and provide specific amendment language the board could consider at public hearings.
