2 weeks Ago
MSA Professional Services is set to rewrite La Crosse’s zoning code for $259,000 after the city’s planning commissions approved the consulting group for the project Tuesday. The project comes in just under the $260,000 budgeted for the overhaul. MSA will facilitate public input on zoning and propose rewrites based on La Crosse’s long-term strategic goals.
City planning commissioners picked MSA based on its strength in gathering public input in other, similar projects. MSA has previously worked with La Crosse on other zoning projects like conditional use permit rewrites, boundary agreement planning and city planning staffing. The Collective on 4th on Jackson Street in La Crosse is seen Sept.
11. Fifty of the 62 units in the building will be designated for affordable housing for families. Saskia Hatvany, River Valley Media Group file photo Only one other consulting firm, GRAEF, was interviewed to take on the rewrite.
GRAEF previously helped La Crosse staff craft the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. La Crosse planning director Andrea Trane said the decision to go with MSA came down to minor details and the city has a good relationship with both firms. The zoning rewrite is expected to be complete by 2026.
Requests for proposals went out in the middle of August . Sections of La Crosse’s zoning code are 40 years or older. City planners say the current code is difficult for developers to understand and implement.
With a housing crunch limiting options for potential homebuyers and kicking others out, new zoning could facilitate more housing options. About two-thirds of La Crosse is zoned for single-family homes. There is also no code that allows for smaller multi-unit homes like duplexes and triplexes without conditional use permits.
The conditional use permit process can dissuade developers from investing in La Crosse, according city planners. In recent years, Onalaska, Eau Claire and Rochester, Minn. have all passed similar zoning overhauls.
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