Madison considers zoning changes to create more housing along bus routes

Site Staff,

In an effort to make the city of Madison’s bus system — including the forthcoming bus rapid transit (BRT) routes — more accessible and serve more people, city leaders are considering changes to zoning rules to encourage more housing, including on properties currently located in registered historic districts, according to a report from the Wisconsin State Journal.

Tonight, the City Council will consider an ordinance to initiate a “Transit Oriented Development Overlay District” covering all areas within a quarter mile of BRT routes, except downtown and the UW–Madison campus.

The key changes to the overlay district include:

  • Allowing more residential units as a permitted use in residential, mixed-use, and certain employment zoning districts.
  • Allowing additional building height as a permitted use in some residential and mixed-use districts.
  • Removing usable open space requirements for residential units.
  • Removing minimum vehicle parking requirements and adding tighter maximum parking limits.
  • A minimum two-story building height, with some exceptions, in multifamily residential, mixed-use, and employment districts.

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