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Welcome to the City of Madison Zoning Code rewrite project website! This site provides important information about the project including the purpose of the project, project schedule, list of meetings and other public events, meeting summaries, reports, presentations, code documents and maps, staff contact information and much more.

Zoning Code Rewrite Public Hearing Scheduled
Monday, June 21st, 2010

On Monday, June 21st, 2010, the City of Madison Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on the draft of the City’s zoning code. The public hearing will be held at 6:00 p.m. in Room 201 of the City County Building which is located at 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Madison.

Since early 2008, the City of Madison has been working on the zoning code rewrite with a consultant team led by the Cuningham Group, P.A. The existing zoning code was last rewritten in 1966. The new zoning code will be easier to use and understand than the current code, better enable the City to implement its Comprehensive Plan and other plans, and help the community achieve its sustainability goals.

At the onset of the rewrite project, the Zoning Code Advisory Committee was created by the Madison Common Council to work with the consultants and City staff in preparing a draft zoning code. The draft zoning code was introduced to the City Council on September 15th, 2009. Since the project began in 2008, the project consultants and City staff have met over 90 times with numerous boards, commissions and committees as well as various groups and individuals. Further, several community meetings and community summits were held.

“Madison’s zoning code is the blueprint for how we physically define our city,” said Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. “Updating the zoning code is crucial in making sure Madison grows smartly, and in making lasting improvements to our sustainability efforts throughout the community. I look forward to hearing the public’s input.”

The zoning code rewrite project is expected to be complete in 2011 after the adoption of a new zoning map which will be prepared after adoption of the new zoning code. The new zoning code and map will ultimately be adopted by the Common Council after review by the City Plan Commission, Zoning Code Rewrite Advisory Committee, other City boards, committees and commissions and the public.

Public Review Draft

Click here to view the Public Review Draft of the Zoning Code.

The Public Review Draft of the Zoning Code can also be viewed at Legistar File ID 15932 (Attachments Section). See New Zoning Code Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 documents.

Click here to view the proposed zoning code's staff memoranda and red-lined draft zoning code.

The zoning code is one of the primary tools the City of Madison uses to regulate development. All existing and new development in the City must be consistent with the requirements of the zoning code. These requirements range from the land uses (e.g. single family home, apartment, neighborhood store, office building) allowed on a property, to building setbacks from the street and adjacent properties, to the amount of parking required on a site. The current zoning code dates from 1966 and it does not always reflect best zoning and community planning practices. Further, the zoning code is often confusing and difficult to use. In addition, it is not always effective in implementing the recommendations of Madison’s adopted Comprehensive Plan (www.madisonplan.org), neighborhood and special area plans. The new zoning code will be a much-improved code that is easier to use and understand. Further, it will better enable the City to implement its various plans.

In December 2007, the City retained the services of a team of consultants that includes Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A., White and Smith, LLC, Keane Musty and URS Corporation. The consultants, led by Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A., will prepare a new zoning code and map for the City of Madison. The zoning code rewrite project is expected to be a two-year process, starting in January 2008, with completion in December 2009.

The zoning code rewrite is intended to be as inclusive of community interests as possible, and to provide a variety of ways for the public and interest groups to participate. All Zoning Rewrite Advisory Committee, Plan Commission and City Council meetings will be public meetings. Anyone can attend these meetings. During the course of the project, a series of community meetings and summits will be held throughout the City. These events will provide the community with various opportunities for participation in the Zoning Code rewrite project. There are various other ways to participate in the project. These are describe elsewhere on this website.