Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Design Guidelines topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissionors propose expanded design and sustainability guidelines, working group to guide developers
Summary
Commissioners discussed creating more detailed design guidelines and sustainability recommendations to give developers clearer early‑stage direction, including a possible working group of local designers and a role for the sustainability committee’s 'good/better/best' standards to be tied to TIF incentives or zoning.
Commissioner Bruce proposed on July 14 that the Middleton Plan Commission develop expanded design guidelines to provide clearer, earlier direction to applicants and reduce delays in project review.
Commissioner Bruce said existing guidelines in the zoning ordinance are minimal and that a more detailed checklist or brochure would help applicants "know upfront what the requirements are." He proposed assembling a working group of local architects and designers to draft guidance that could be reviewed by the commission.
Commissioners supported the idea of parallel tracks: focused design guidance for urban fronting and pedestrian environments, and sustainability guidance that could use a good/better/best framework. One commissioner suggested including a high‑school student from Middleton High School’s architectural design program on the working group. Staff said design guidance could be paired with incentive structures such as TIF policy revisions so that meeting sustainability standards could be a condition for TIF assistance.
Commissioners asked staff to start organizing the working group and to provide a simple checklist format for staff and applicants. The discussion ended with a direction to staff and Commissioner Bruce to coordinate next steps for drafting the guidelines and reporting back to the commission.
