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Waukesha plan commission advances draft zoning rewrite, residents raise RN4 concerns
Summary
The commission reviewed a draft zoning overhaul that consolidates nine residential districts into RN1–RN4, prompting a resident to warn that RN4 could expose single-family neighborhoods to higher-density development; staff said the draft aims to reflect existing uses and minimize nonconforming status.
Waukesha City Plan Commission members on June 25 reviewed a draft rewrite of the city’s district and use standards that consolidates the existing residential zoning categories into four numbered districts, RN1 through RN4, and clarifies permitted uses and supplemental standards.
At the meeting, resident Lisa Salb of 434 Madison Street told commissioners the draft map shows an area north of Qdoba to Albert Street rezoned as Residential Neighborhood 4 (RN4) and said the change could threaten about 40 affordable single-family homes. “Please don’t try to turn our lovely city into Downtown Milwaukee,” Salb said, urging the commission to listen to neighborhood concerns and to correct apparent typographical errors in the draft map.
Staff planner Charlie, who led the presentation, said the naming change is deliberate: staff and the consultant concluded descriptive names caused confusion and moved to a numbered system. He described RN4 as the most flexible residential district, intended to reflect areas that already contain larger multifamily buildings and to permit a range of housing types while allowing single-family and duplex uses to remain. "Single family and duplex uses will still be allowed as they are currently — that will not change at all," Charlie said, adding the map is a draft and that staff seeks commission input on boundaries.
Commissioners and staff emphasized that a zoning map change alone does not remove property ownership or force redevelopment. Commissioner discussion noted nonconforming status remains an issue only when a structure is altered or destroyed; staff said the draft aims to reduce the number of nonconforming properties by aligning districts with the built environment.
The draft also consolidates standards for drive-through stacking and makes child day care homes an accessory rather than a principal use in residential districts. Staff said accessory dwelling units would be allowed in RN1–RN4, and additional zoning sections (development standards, natural-resources protections, signage and subdivision standards) are planned for presentation by the end of the summer.
The commission did not vote to adopt the zoning code during this meeting; staff will continue revisions and bring additional sections back for review. The commission recommended that staff follow up on specific map anomalies residents flagged and to circulate revised materials to alderpersons and the public ahead of future hearings.
