The Department of City Development (DCD) creates plans to guide land use and development and to prioritize infrastructure investments in the City of Milwaukee. These plans are called area plans, and 14 areas plans plus a Citywide Policy Plan cover every neighborhood in the city. Together, these plans make up the City’s Comprehensive Plan. These plans are updated on a regular basis. Area Plans typically look 10-15 years into the future. The West Side Area Plan was last completed in 2009. Many things have changed since then! Now is the time to re-evaluate the recommendations in the West Side Area Plan to guide the future of the West Side.

Updating an area plan takes time. The West Side Area Plan will take approximately 18 months to update. Therefore, it is anticipated that the Plan will be adopted by the Common Council in the second half of 2026. Every milestone includes community engagement.

An area plan is the official guide for land use and development in that geographic are of the city. City staff use area plans to evaluate rezoning requests, sales of City-owned land, and new development proposals. City staff also use the plan to help prioritize infrastructure investments, such as improvements to streets and parks.

Area plans are long-term roadmaps for supporting attractive and stable neighborhoods in a way that is equitable and sustainable for years to come. Every municipality in the State of Wisconsin is required to have a comprehensive plan to guide land use decisions, such as zoning and land division.

The West Side Area Plan that was adopted in 2009 will be replaced by an updated plan. However, the updated plan will include all of the goals, policies, and recommendations from the 2009 version that are still applicable, and it will update the areas that are no longer relevant—either because those goals have been achieved or have shifted.

City staff are responsible for the development of the plan update. A consultant team, led by GRAEF, has been hired assist with urban design and engagement services for a few sites and corridors. City staff are responsible for development of the recommendations and managing the engagement process, including hosting the community meetings.

Implementation happens over time—sometimes 10-15 years in the future. There are numerous factors that affect implementation: funding availability, property ownership, community priorities, and more. The City relies on other City departments, other governmental agencies, business improvement districts, and community partners for some implementation items. The Plan will identify which entity is responsible for implementation.

• The terms “land use” and “zoning” are often used interchangeable; however, there are important distinctions. · Land use is a general description for the activity that takes place on a piece of land. For example, common land use descriptions include residential, commercial, parks, and industrial. · Zoning is a regulatory tool that defines the specific uses that are allowed with a specific zoning district. Every property in the city is assigned a zoning classification that regulates how it can be used. Zoning also sets limits on building size and scale. The purpose of zoning is to promote public health and safety and provide for orderly growth and development in a community. For example, a particular zoning district intended for residential uses may prohibit manufacturing uses, and it may also dictate that homes should not be taller than a certain height.

The best way to hear about upcoming meetings and other engagement activities is to visit the Plan Update website and sign up for updates at engage.milwaukee.gov/westside