Waunakee planners present Phase 2 public engagement results for 2040 comprehensive plan

Andy, a member of the planning team presenting virtually, told the Waunakee Plan Commission the Phase 2 engagement included a well-attended workshop and an online survey that drew "over 500 responses." He said the in-person workshop responses were more uniformly supportive of several housing initiatives, while the online survey showed narrower margins and a mix of 'yes' and 'no' responses.

The session centered on two questions: which goals and strategies should be revised in light of public feedback, and how the steering committee—as plan champions—should help explain tradeoffs to residents. Andy said the plan team will revise goals and strategies based on the Phase 2 input and return to the committee with final language before beginning Phase 3, the plan-writing phase.

Why it matters: the comprehensive plan will guide land use, utilities and transportation decisions for the next decade. Commissioners and staff emphasized several recurring themes from the survey and workshop: preserving open space and agricultural land around the village; improving trail connectivity and pedestrian safety (notably near the high school); supporting local businesses and the downtown; and increasing housing options while maintaining community character.

Commissioners raised three recurring concerns. First, survey sample and interpretation: several commissioners said the Phase 2 survey skewed toward longer-tenured residents and may not capture the perspectives of newer or younger households. Second, terminology confusion: some splits on housing questions likely reflect different interpretations of terms such as "diverse housing options," "workforce housing" and "attainable." Third, trade-offs and funding: while many respondents supported water and transportation infrastructure, about a third were not in favor of infrastructure funding, prompting questions about how projects would be paid for.

On how the public views housing, Andy described "gentle density" options such as smaller detached units and townhomes as a path that can expand housing choices without creating a sea of large apartment complexes. Commissioners pressed for better breakdowns of survey responses by tenure and income; Andy said he would provide additional cross-tabulations and the raw written responses for commissioners to review.

Direct quotes from the meeting punctuated the discussion. Andy said, "we had a really fun workshop... what 60 or 80 people" and later summarized turnout as "over 500 responses." On community buy-in, Andy offered a pragmatic threshold for pursuing an initiative: "My gut reaction is 60%."

Next steps: staff will circulate more granular data and revised goals and strategies, then begin Phase 3—drafting the 2040 comprehensive plan document—with the steering committee able to review and approve final language before the plan is published.