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Plan Commission reviews Wisconsin Act 173’s implications for Shorewood’s comprehensive plan and zoning
Summary
Staff briefed commissioners on Wisconsin Act 173 (effective Jan. 1, 2028), explaining requirements for minimum and maximum densities in comprehensive plans, zoning consistency, changes to TIF rules and related items; staff recommended folding needed work into the village's five-year comprehensive plan review.
Plan Commission members discussed state legislation known as Wisconsin Act 173 and how it could affect Shorewood's comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances.
Director Griero summarized the statute and timing: "This is this relates to relatively new legislation that was passed in April and does not become effective until January 1st of 2028," he said, noting municipalities have roughly 18 months to complete changes and staff recommended incorporating required work into the five-year comprehensive plan review.
Staff described four primary parts of the act as summarized for the commission: (1) comprehensive plans must include minimum and maximum density ranges in the future land-use element; (2) local zoning must be consistent with those densities, which may require amending zoning districts (the transcript noted several Shorewood residential districts currently do not allow duplexes); (3) technical updates to tax-increment financing (TIF/TID) language; and (4) the law allows communities to extend TIF districts for up to two years to gather funds for affordable housing.
Commissioners asked whether a state agency certifies compliance; staff said there is no routine state-level certification and that compliance could be tested if an action were challenged in court or appeal. Staff noted housing-demand projections come from the Department of Administration and that the village will need to confirm those numbers when applying the act's thresholds.
Kate, speaking to broader intent, described the legislation as a statewide response to housing shortages: "it's really a huge part of an effort, a bipartisan effort to address affordable housing and the affordable housing crisis that we're experiencing," she said.
Staff recommended that Shorewood treat the Act 173 requirements as part of the planned five-year comprehensive-plan review, start the work promptly given the 2028 deadline, and involve the village attorney in any amendments that involve legal interpretation.
No formal action was taken; staff will propose a schedule and scope for how Act 173 items could be incorporated into the village's five-year review and report back to the commission.
