Growing MKE is a citywide planning effort that aims to set the framework for housing growth and choice in the city of Milwaukee. Through this process, we will review the goals and recommendations from several City of Milwaukee plans such as the Collective Affordable Housing Strategic Plan, Equitable Growth through Transit-Oriented Development, and the Climate and Equity Plan. We also want to hear from the community about the housing growth they would like to see. The project will result in a proposed amendment to the Citywide Policy Plan. In particular, we are looking at how to encourage housing choice and growth through Milwaukee’s Zoning Code.

There are a lot of ways for you to engage.

• Take the survey on this website (See Survey tab)
• Stop by during Office Hours at Libraries (See Upcoming Events tab)
• Join us for an Open House Public Meeting (See Upcoming Events tab)
• Please stop by when you see us at a local community event
• View materials from past meetings and events (See Past Events tab)

• The Citywide Policy Plan is part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Milwaukee’s Comprehensive Plan includes a Citywide Policy Plan and 14 Area Plans.
• A comprehensive plan guides future development by setting a collective vision and roadmap for the future.
• Comprehensive plans are updated and amended based on changing needs in a community. For Growing MKE, we are looking at how to support evolving housing needs.

Click on the links below to access pdfs of the Citywide Policy Plan, Area Plans, and various Plan amendments.

Citywide Policy Plan

Area Plans

In 2002, the Milwaukee’s entire zoning code was updated. Since then, there have been strategic updates throughout the code. Over that last 20 years, there have also been a lot of changes within our city, and a variety of city wide and neighborhood planning initiatives that have made recommendations related to housing growth, choice, and affordability.

Now, is the time to look citywide and make sure that the zoning code supports opportunity, prosperity and equity for all Milwaukeeans. We will be discussing how changes to the code...

• Can increase housing choice by encouraging a diversity of housing styles across the city.
• Set clearer expectations for development to make development more predictable for neighbors and developers.
• Make more housing types feasible within neighborhoods so that people can age in place.
• Allow for additional housing development on high frequency transit corridors.
• Help us meet our climate and housing affordability goals.

We aren’t starting from scratch... The vision and policies in our Comprehensive Plan are still relevant today. An update to our Citywide Policy Plan will include new commitments and update statements that reflect the housing choice Milwaukeeans desire. In particular, we are looking at how to encourage housing choice and growth through Milwaukee’s Zoning Code.

We expect to propose Common Council adoption of the Growing MKE comprehensive plan amendment by mid-2024. Growing MKE will make recommendations to update the Zoning Code. Following adoption of Growing MKE, staff will draft proposed updates to the Zoning Code. Any future zoning code updates would need to be adopted by Common Council. Gradually, over the next few years and decades, these changes should support development of wider variety of housing types throughout the city.

The Growing MKE Plan Amendment and future zoning code updates aim to support these overarching citywide goals:

• Housing Choice & Equity: Everyone has healthy, stable housing that they can afford.
• Economic Development: Milwaukee is an economically resilient city.
• Connectivity: Milwaukee is a city of vibrant neighborhoods with amenities that can be reached by foot, bike or transit.
• Climate & Resiliency: Milwaukee’s housing stock is resilient and new development helps reduce our carbon footprint through building design and location.