EC Plan Commission recommends approval of new Zoning Code, but with some proposed amendments   
   At its meeting last Monday, the City of Eau Claire Plan Commission discussed the City's proposed new Zoning Code, passing along a recommendation to the City Council for passage with suggested amendments in two areas. 
   This was the first official action towards adoption of the new code, with the Eau Claire City Council scheduled to hold a public hearing on July 21 and act on approval at its July 22 Legislative Session. 
Plan commission debates potential amendments
   The two proposed amendments recommended by the Plan Commission each passed on a vote of 6-1. Proposed by City Council Member Aaron Brewster, one recommended standardizing the maximum garage frontage projection for all housing types at 15 feet (longer than proposed in the code for twin homes), and the other reduced the number of required design amenities for multi-family buildings from three to two, effectively eliminating the mandate to include balconies. Both of these provisions were among those that affordability advocates and home builders suggested needed to be amended because of their anticipated impact on cost of construction, housing prices, and rents.
   The Plan Commission rejected two other amendments proposed by Brewster to change the zoning districts for the Third Ward and Randall Park areas from NR to GR. The NR (Neighborhood Residential) designation in the proposed code allows slightly more density by right for property owners. The Third Ward change recommendation failed on a 2-6 vote and the Randall Park by a 1-6 vote. Commissioner Josh Zeug proposed an amendment to the tree preservation requirements to move the exemption for small lots from 10,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet, but it failed on a 3-4 vote.
Purposes of zoning rewrite
   A complete rewrite of the City of Eau Claire's zoning code has been underway since 2023. The process has been dubbed the "Century Code Update," commemorating the 100th anniversary of the City's first zoning ordinance. The process has been led by City Planning Manager Ned Noel with the assistance of a consultant, under the direction of the Zoning Policy Advisory Committee (ZPAC) consisting of the City Council and Plan Commission.
   Since the City's latest significant overhaul occurred over 33 years ago, there was a consensus among City leadership and local industry that it was time to review and update the code based upon current housing and economic needs, as well as incorporating best practices. A project overview presentation from February 2024 enumerated 12 primary purposes of the initiative (click here and see pages 7-8 for the complete list), including such goals as "Produce more housing supply, diversity of choices, and affordability," "Improve development process certainties," "Lessen pressure on sprawl and environmental and habitat degradation," "Produce more complete streets and neighborhoods with housing choices, commercial and jobs within walking distance," "Reduce exclusionary zoning practices," and "Educate with evidence-based literature/data on the need for zoning reforms and associated co-benefits."
Affordability concerns detailed
   Recent letters and communications to the Plan Commission and City Council have come from the JONAH Affordable Housing Task Force, City of Eau Claire Housing Opportunities Commission, and the Housing Our Neighbors Planning Cooperative, as well as earlier input from the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association and the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce.
   Each expressed appreciation for many of the zoning provisions that support the update's goals to "Produce more housing supply, diversity of choices, and affordability." such as those related to lot sizes, gentle density increases, improving development process certainties, and other improvements. However, they pointed out that some provisions should be reconsidered, "given their potential to raising housing costs," including aesthetic standards that have to be recovered in the sales price or rental rates, onerous tree preservation standards, park impact fees, mandates for multi-family amenities, and parking mandates. 
Full draft code now on project website, Council action in July 21-22
   The City Planning Department has posted online the full draft 425-page document.
More information:
Eau Claire Plan Commission
 • Monday, June 30 Agenda Packet
Century Code Update full website (City of Eau Claire)
Draft minutes from June 30 Plan Commission meeting (Go to pages 84-88)
Housing affordability and supply communications: 
  Zoning letter - JONAH Affordable Housing Task Force (JONAH)
  Zoning Letter (Housing Opportunities Commission)
  Zoning communication (Housing Our Neighbors Planning Cooperative)
  Chamber letter to Zoning Policy Advisory Comm (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
  Remarks to June 30 Plan Commission (Scott Rogers, Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
  Comments and Recommendations about the Proposed Zoning Code (Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association)

Other housing stories...
Prairie Heights Residences, low-income housing, held grand opening (WEAU 13 News)
Final 'Unlock Affordable Housing' Event July 9 Spotlights Altoona's Solis Circle Project (Volume One)
Western Dairyland seeks volunteers for July 23 homeless count; explains winter’s numbers (Leader-Telegram $)
Western Dairyland seeks volunteers for summer point-in-time homeless count (WQOW News 18)

EC City Council: N Barstow BID operating
agreement and DECI Annual Report
   The Eau Claire City Council meets on Monday and Tuesday this week. On Monday evening, there are no public hearings except for the open public comment period. The Council will then go into closed session to discuss collective bargaining with city employees and "to provide negotiation direction regarding its wastewater contract with the City of Altoona. Tuesday's Business Agenda includes approval of the Operating Plan for the North Barstow Business Improvement District (see pages 42-66 of the Tuesday Agenda Packet linked below), an annual report from Downtown Eau Claire, Inc., (pages 67-68), and accepting the minutes form the Fiscal Stability Ad Hoc Committee (pages 69-72). Following Tuesday's meeting, the Council will hold a Work Session with the Waterways and Parks Commission on the Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. 
More information:
Eau Claire City Council
 • Monday, July 7, Public Hearing Agenda Packet (5 pages)
 • Tuesday, July 8, Legislative Session Agenda Packet (88 pages)
    Budget Process and current documents (City of Eau Claire)
    Link to videos of city meetings (City of Eau Claire)
    City Council Online Comment Form (City of Eau Claire)
    Contact information: City Council members (City of Eau Claire)
    City News Updates -incl. City Manager's Update (City of Eau Claire)

Altoona seeks applicants for District 5 City Council vacancy
Deadline: 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 9
   The City of Altoona is looking for applicants for appointment to the City's District 5 Council seat, with current member Kaitlyn Leopold resigning from the seat effective August 1. The individual appointed will fill out the remainder of the 3-year term, ending April 2026. Applicants must live in District 5. Interested candidates should submit a letter and resume to the Altoona City Clerk by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9.
More information:
Contact City Administrator Mike Golat, 715-839-6092.
Altoona seeks applicants for City Council seat in District 5 (WQOW News 18)

Also meeting this week...
Full public meetings calendar
Eau Claire County Committee on Administration
• Tuesday, July 8, 1 p.m. Meeting information
Eau Claire County Committee on Planning & Development
• Tuesday, July 8, 6 p.m. Meeting information
City of Eau Claire Housing Opportunities Commission
• Wednesday, July 9, 5:15 p.m. Meeting information
Altoona City Council
• Thursday, July 10, 6 p.m. Meeting information