Gov. Tony Evers is expected to sign a “Truth in Planning” bill that according to the Badger Institute will help developers move past lengthy zoning disputes for housing development.
“This is exactly what Wisconsin needs,” said Mike Nichols, president of the Badger Institute, a key supporter of the bill. “Our elected officials came together to reduce regulations and just let the market work.”
AB453 will assure that municipal zoning ordinances are consistent with comprehensive plans that identify areas where houses will be allowed and that specify minimum and maximum densities.
The bill requires municipalities’ comprehensive plans to identify where and how densely residential growth will happen, by five-year increments over 20 years.
Under the new legislation, if someone requests the rezoning of a parcel to develop homes and a municipality’s comprehensive plan doesn’t meet the new law’s requirements, the land will automatically be rezoned to the requested classification or to the least restrictive zoning classification allowed.
Rep. Rob Brooks, the Saukville Republican who is one of the sponsors of the bill, said it is a way to address the not-in-my-backyard “nimbyism going on around the state.”
Currently, Wisconsin municipalities are required periodically to produce comprehensive plans, but zoning for particular parcels does not automatically conform to those plans — meaning that when a development proposal for a parcel emerges, the rezoning process can become a nexus of delay and opposition.
The legislation does not force any municipality to allow homes. It just mandates that cities and villages plan in a transparent fashion that gives developers some certainty when they come in with a proposal.
“I really strongly believe it will provide predictability for developers on new homes in the future,” said Brad Boycks, executive director of the Wisconsin Builders Association, another key supporter. “Time is money,” and decreasing the amount of time developers have to spend appearing before regulators and redrafting plans time and time again will made housing more affordable.
