Plan Commission recommends revised subdivision ordinance to License & Ordinance Committee

The Middleton Plan Commission voted on May 12 to recommend a rewrite of the city’s subdivision ordinance to the License & Ordinance Committee, advancing the update after a staff overview and brief discussion of specific drafting changes.

Steph, a city staff member, told commissioners the rewrite updates long‑outdated subdivision procedures to reflect recent zoning changes (including zoning that allows smaller lots) and a state law change from about a decade ago. Staff said the city attorney simplified some language for the extraterritorial zoning section, which currently references a 1‑acre threshold in that context. Steph said simplification was intended to streamline the extraterritorial section because much extraterritorial regulation is handled via agreements with adjacent towns.

Commissioner Nick Adams moved to recommend approval of the revised subdivision ordinance to the License & Ordinance Committee; Commissioner Shaw seconded, and the motion passed by voice vote with no recorded roll‑call opposition. Chair announced the ayes had it and the commission will forward the matter to the next committee stage.

Commissioners who reviewed the draft said they found it generally acceptable; Commissioner Schaeffer reported reading the entire draft and noting only a small change to the minimum tree size (from 2 inches to 1.5 inches) that he observed in the edit track. One commissioner asked staff to explain an internal comment about the 1‑acre minimum; staff explained that the change relates to the city’s extraterritorial zoning area and was drafted to be simpler and easier to manage.

Before adjourning, staff and the chair noted the commission will make appointments to the Middleton‑Westport Joint Zoning Committee at the June meeting.

What’s next: the revised subdivision ordinance will be forwarded to the License & Ordinance Committee for their review. No final adoption occurred at this meeting.