Details

Title	Identifying and Mitigating Local Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing in Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Highlights	The authors recognize that a lengthy permitting and approval process increases the cost of affordable housing.   The authors support streamlining the permitting process.                       The writers of this article imply that some impact fees are used to prevent the development of affordable housing.   The writers of this article support the idea of reviewing existing impact fees to ensure they are not used to exclude certain types of residential development. They suggest that fees-in-lieu be calculated for on-site improvements only.                       The writers contend that growth control ordinances have a negative impact on affordable housing development.   They do not want communities to adopt growth control ordinances except when time is needed to supply necessary infrastructure.                       Low density zoning, excessive lot widths, excessive front yard setbacks, minimum floor area requirements sidewalks, curb and gutter, and storm sewers drive up the cost of producing affordable housing.   The authors contend that communities could reduce these requirements to accommodate affordable housing – both single-family and multifamily.
Description	The authors who undertook this study identified a number of zoning and subdivision regulations that impact the cost of producing affordable housing in Waukesha County, Michigan. They identify substantial low-density zoning, excessive lot widths, excessive front yard setbacks, and minimum floor area requirements as particularly troublesome regulations. They contend that each drives up the cost by increasing the amount of public and private infrastructure needed to service these properties. The authors also identify several subdivision requirements they contend are unnecessary or excessive. These include sidewalks, curb and gutter, and storm sewers. The authors contend that communities could reduce these requirements to accommodate affordable housing – both single-family and multifamily. In addition they argue that communities can increase the number of units allowed per acre and reduce the minimum floor area to increase the production of affordable rental housing. In the article, the writers also make a number of other recommendations. They support the idea of reviewing existing impact fees to insure they are not used to exclude certain types of residential development. They suggest that fees-in-lieu be calculated for on-site improvements only. They do not want communities to adopt growth control ordinances, except when time is needed to supply necessary infrastructure. They also support streamlining the permitting process and legalizing accessory apartments. They also want communities to consider creating affordable housing districts where minimum and maximum development standards are enacted. They say that all communities cannot adopt all of these suggestions but the more suggestions that are adopted the greater the probability that housing will be affordable.
Publication Date	1991
Organization	The Urban Reserach Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Web Location	http://www.huduser.org/rbc/docs/milwaukee071102.pdf

Notice: The contents of this record reflect the views of the author and/or promulgating municipality, and should not be construed as representing the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or U.S. HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research. No attempt has been made by U.S. HUD or its contractors to verify the accuracy, currency, or validity of the record contents presented herein.