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Housing and More Housing, Spring Election, and This Week's Updates

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Hi Everyone,

Lots of new information about housing, one of my favorites topics.

Housing and Demolition Ordinance Changes

Last Tuesday, Common Council approved a set of changes to the zoning code designed to support the creation of more types of housing and to bring increased efficiency to our demolition process.

The package of changes — first introduced in January by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, myself and several of my colleagues — was created to provide more flexibility for homeowners looking to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or modify their single-family homes; better facilitate small residential infill projects where they’re already allowed; and improve the City’s review process for proposed demolitions of non-historic buildings.

For more information, including the specific changes that were made and the reasons behind them, please click here.

Housing Forward Update – Staff Presentation and Housing Tracker

Also on Tuesday night, planning staff presented details regarding the city’s updated Housing Forward strategy that was first revealed in January.  The video clip of the presentation is well worth checking out, which you may do so by clicking here. (The slide deck included in the presentation is available here.)

The updated strategy addresses our severe housing shortage by setting an ambitious goal of 15,000 new homes over the next five years, with 3750 of those new homes being affordable. Doing so would go a long way toward mitigating our historically low vacancy rate which, in turn, is the principal reason why Madison housing values have risen so dramatically in recent years.

Included in the Housing Forward update is a new tool, the City of Madison Housing Tracker, that will help those interested in reviewing our progress in meeting these ambitious goals. Click here for more information.

In Case You Haven't Heard...

We have a monumental election coming up on April 1st. This Tuesday, March 4th, is the last day for new residents to establish residency for the Spring Election. Voters who move within Wisconsin after this day may vote from their prior address.

For more information, including key dates for absentee ballots, please click here.

Here are the rest of this week's updates:

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

  • Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, March 3, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include an update on federal executive orders and directives to pause federal grants and loans, as well as approving the submission of the required 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, which includes the 2025 Annual Action Plan, to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  • Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, March 3, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include amending the Report of the Lamp House Block Ad Hoc Plan Committee, creating Chapter 21 of the Madison General Ordinances related to Zoning Floodplain Regulations and Maps, and development-related requests for Districts 2, 3, 6, 12, 14, and 17.
  • Transportation Commission: The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 5, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include amending Traffic Engineering’s 2025 Capital Budget to appropriate additional funding in 2025 relating to the City share and federal share for two Carbon Reduction Program grants.

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Announcements and News Releases

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted.

Lastly....

Every week there's something new, some new source of lament and grief. The damage being done is unfathomable. It's enervating, and I suppose that's the point, to overwhelm the majority who did not vote for this, to unravel the very fabric of our collective moral sensibility so that all resistance appears futile. 

I'm reminded of the Peter Gabriel song, "Don't Give Up," with that beautiful and touching chorus sung by Kate Bush. That's right. Don't give up. Ask for help. Reach out, reach out to your friends, reach out and renew connections...or make new ones. Offer help if you're at a place where that's possible. Find a place where you can make a difference, to volunteer, to knock on doors, to make phone calls, to make a stand for what you believe in. 

To paraphase Thomas Paine, these are the times that try our souls. It's a time that calls for courage and faith in the very principles of liberal democracy upon which our nation was founded. 

Don't give up. 

Vote on April 1st.

Take care and stay safe,

Tag.

P.S. If you have questions or concerns, I can be reached at district13@cityofmadison or at 608.424.2580.

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District 13 - Alder Evers

Alder Tag Evers

Alder Tag Evers

District 13
Contact Alder Evers