What is the Housing Element?

The Housing Element (formerly known as Growing MKE) is the result of a citywide planning initiative to support Milwaukee’s evolving housing needs. The Housing Element is part of the City of Milwaukee's Comprehensive Plan and replaces the Citywide Policy Plan’s Housing & Neighborhoods Chapter.

We didn’t start from scratch... The vision and policies in our Comprehensive Plan are still relevant today and several recent planning efforts were incorporated. The Housing Element incorporates goals and recommendations from a number of recent housing-related planning efforts across the city to support implementation of policies and recommendations found in the Anti-Displacement Plan, the Collective Affordable Housing Strategic Plan (developed with the cross sector Community Development Alliance, and endorsed by the Common Council), and the City’s 14 Area Plans.

The Housing Element update to the Citywide Policy Plan includes new commitments and updates previous statements that reflect the housing choice Milwaukeeans desire. You can view the proposed Housing Element here.

Earlier drafts of the Housing Element were titled “Growing MKE.” The title was updated to align with changes in the plan, which better reflect the goals of meeting the housing needs of existing residents and neighborhoods, as well as those who will call Milwaukee home in the future.

Community Meeting (open to all residents) hosted by Alderwoman Moore and Alderwoman Zamarripa

• Thursday, May 22, 2025
  • Denizen, 4227 W Vliet St, Milwaukee, WI 53208
  • 5:45-8:00 pm
    • Doors Open: 5:45
    • Presentation: 6:00 followed by optional table discussions
  • Meeting Purpose: This is an opportunity to learn about the updated Housing Element, ask questions, and provide feedback.
  • Spanish interpretation available. Written materials will be available in Spanish and Hmong




Accommodation Requests

Reasonable accommodations, of an auxiliary aid or service required due to a disability, for a City of Milwaukee event will be provided upon request. Contact the City of Milwaukee ADA Coordinator, 414-286-3475 or adacoordinator@milwaukee.gov as soon as possible but no later than 72 hours before the scheduled event.

Webinars (Recordings available)

Department of City Development staff hosted Informational Webinars about the Draft Housing Element for Milwaukee's Comprehensive Plan. Staff shared information on the plan, updates from the last draft, and supporting materials. After the presentation, staff answered questions. Presentation content was the same for both meetings.

• Wednesday, May 7th, 6:00 - 7:00pm - Recordings of the presentation portion of the meeting are available below or on our YouTube Channel. Full recordings of the meeting (presentation and Q&A) are available on the YouTube Channel and on the Past Events page.
• Tuesday, May 13th, 6:00 - 7:00pm - A full recording of the meeting (presentation and Q&A) is available in English on the YouTube Channel and on the Past Events page. The presentation was the same for both meetings.

Proposed Draft Plan & Adoption Process

Thank you to everyone who provided comments on the Draft Plan! We appreciate the time and thoughtful comments that Milwaukee community provided throughout this planning process. We will continue to take comments on the May 1, 2025 Draft Plan.

The following documents & resources are available in the link below:

• Proposed Draft Plan
• Executive Summary
• Summary of Changes to the Plan
• Benefit & Harm Analysis
• Engagement Summary
• Interactive Zoning Map
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Comment Form - Open until 8am on May 23, 2025 at 8am, after that please follow the instructions below.

The next step is the adoption process. The Plan will need to be formally adopted as an ordinance by the Common Council.

• Public review and comment at City Plan Commission (CPC) meeting on Monday, June 2, 2025
• Public hearing at Zoning, Neighborhood, and Development Committee (ZND) – details pending
• Adoption by the Common Council – details pending, pending recommendation from CPC and ZND

How can you offer feedback on the proposed Draft Plan?

The City Plan Commission will review the proposed plan update at it's next meeting meeting on June 2, 2025.

• June 2, 2025 at 1:30pm
• City Hall, Room 301-A. 200 E. Wells St. Milwaukee, WI 53202

Instructions for participating in and/or viewing the meeting are on the City Plan Commission website and below.

Options to participate or view/listen if you are interested

1. In person - To view and to speak if you would like (optional). City Hall, Room 301-A, 200 East Wells Street. The meeting starts at 1:30pm.
2. View/listen remotely:
   • On the City Channel: city.milwaukee.gov/cityclerk/CityChannel (typically Live Stream II covers City Plan Commission)
   • Join the meeting via GoToWebinar, you must register in advance at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6938553...
   • • Join via the GoToMeeting application (click here for instructions on how to download)
     • Join via your web browser (Google Chrome is recommended)
     • Join via telephone: you will receive a dial-in number and access code in a confirmation email once you've registered.
3. Participate (speak) virtually:
   • Participate via GoToWebinar. Must register in advance at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6938553...
     • Speak via GoToWebinar: You must alert staff of your intention to speak either via email prior to the meeting (PlanAdmin@milwaukee.gov) or via GoToWebinar's "raise your hand" feature. During the hearing, click the "raise your hand" button to alert staff that you would like to speak, and staff will unmute you during the public testimony period of the hearing. You can speak via your computer's microphone, through the phone/tablet application, or with a working pair of headphones with a microphone.
     • Speak via telephone: If you don't have a working microphone, you will receive a dial-in number and access code in a confirmation email once you've registered. Enter the meeting via your computer or application and an audio pin will appear in the Audio tab. Call in using the dial in number, access code, and audio pin. You must alert staff of your intention to speak either via email prior to the meeting (planadmin@milwaukee.gov) or via GoToWebinar's "raise your hand" feature. Staff will monitor and unmute those who have indicated they wish to speak via the "raise your hand" feature during the public hearing session.
4. Written Comments:
   • Those who do not want to speak at the City Plan Commission meeting but want to provide written comments for consideration by the Plan Commission may alternatively do so by e-mailing Planning staff at PlanAdmin@milwaukee.gov at least one business day prior to the start of the meeting. Written comments should be submitted no later than Friday, May 30th.