MADISON — More Housing Wisconsin (MHW), a partnership between the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Builders Association, and Wisconsin REALTORS Association, on May 28 released the fourth in a series of briefing papers which serves as a toolkit to lay the foundation for making informed, local housing policy decisions.

To increase the number and types of housing units available in communities across Wisconsin, the current problems plaguing the housing market must be understood: construction of new housing has not kept pace with demand, increased cost of construction materials, a “lock-in effect” due to high mortgage interest rates, and out-of date local land-use regulations and zoning restrictions.

This latest briefing paper details what municipalities can do to begin eliminating zoning barriers to more housing choices and supply by reducing minimum lot and dwelling unit size restrictions:

●  Reduce minimum lot sizes and widths

●  Reduce setback requirements to allow greater use of existing lots

●  Increase permitted lot coverages to match historic patterns

●  Adopt a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) ordinance

In addition to the monthly briefing papers produced by More Housing Wisconsin, the group conducts monthly interviews with those in the housing field who have been successful implementing housing initiatives, allowing leaders to share best practices and explain how municipal staff and officials have partnered with the private sector with strong ideas and plans for successful projects.

View the monthly briefing papers on the League’s website https://www.lwm-info.org/1706/More-Housing-Wisconsin and the short videos on the League’s YouTube channel, @leagueofwisconsinmunicipal2030.