City Policy Plan nears completion

Public comments are encouraged

The Citywide Policy Plan includes broad recommendations regarding land use, housing and neighborhoods, economic development, cultural resources, natural resources, transportation, community facilities, utilities, and intergovernmental cooperation. The Citywide Plan is the capstone to a six-year effort that has produced 13 area plans already approved by city elected officials.

“This plan focuses on our top priorities including job creation, business growth, and building on what’s great about Milwaukee,” Mayor Tom Barrett said. “The Citywide Plan is a valuable resource as we set Milwaukee’s future direction.”

The draft Citywide Plan, including a summary and an explanatory presentation, are available on the website of the Department of City Development at www.mkedcd.org/planning/plans/Citywide. It will be considered by the City Plan Commission on Monday, February 15th where commissioners will hear public comments from attendees. That meeting takes place on the first floor at 809 N. Broadway at 1:30 pm. Members of the public can also submit comments online through the Citywide Plan website until February 12th.

Hundreds of people have already participated in developing the comprehensive plan and the area plans through sessions convened by the Department of City Development. The plan includes input from people representing neighborhoods, organizations, property owners, and businesses.

Milwaukee’s plan has been prepared in accordance with the statewide Comprehensive Planning & Smart Growth law. The law’s goals include redevelopment of land with existing infrastructure and public services, encouragement of neighborhood designs that support a range of transportation choices, assuring affordable housing, and expanding or stabilizing the community’s economic base. The law lists nine required elements for each community’s comprehensive plan, and specifies that communities make land use decisions consistent with the adopted plan.

The Milwaukee Common Council could act to approve the Citywide Plan as soon as March 2nd.