Latest proposals to create more housing 🏘️

posted September 11, 2025 - 4:41pm

Hello Madison,

The City is continuing its efforts to create more housing with another round of initiatives. This week, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, members of the Common Council, and community groups announced a slate of new proposals to make it easier to build smaller, more affordable homes and simplify the permitting process to create more housing opportunities.

Proposals up for consideration this fall

Clarifying height transition (step backs) requirements to allow the more homes to be built

Making adjustments to lot area, lot width, and alley-attached garage rear setback minimums to make it easier to build small residential buildings

Allowing backyard cottages to contain two units while maintaining current size limits

Allowing “cottage court” developments in residential zoning districts

Updates to Transit Oriented Development Overlay Zone

More details on the proposals
Register for the public meeting

A virtual meeting will be held on September 30 at 5 p.m. to discuss the proposals

Message from the Mayor

"The Police & Fire Commission recently appointed Acting Chief John Patterson as Madison’s permanent Chief of Police. I’m very happy about the selection and have been impressed by the leadership he has already shown as a 27-year veteran of the department. We share a commitment to data-driven policing that focuses on a holistic approach to public safety. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with him to fine-tune an already strong department.

I’m also proud to welcome our new City Clerk, Lydia McComas. She was the the Voter Engagement Division Manager with Hennepin County, Minnesota, which has more than 700,000 active voters and includes the City of Minneapolis. Lydia has experience in many facets of election operations, including voter registration, absentee voting, coordination with canvassing boards, and certifying election results. Additionally, she’s supported other local government agencies with records and licensing requirements. Her first day as Clerk will be at the end of September.

I also recently appointed Jamie Acton to serve as the General Manager of Metro Transit. Jamie previously led the Public Transportation Department for the Municipality of Anchorage. She managed the People Mover system — Alaska's largest transit provider — which has many similarities to Metro Transit, including network operations, municipal ownership, and a unionized workforce. Jamie has also worked extensively in transportation planning and community engagement on the local and federal levels. I’m excited for her to build upon Metro’s successful implementation of Bus Rapid Transit."

— Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway