Milwaukee's approach to housing just became more versatile. The Common Council has officially passed an ordinance to establish a new zoning district, RT5, aimed at creating a wider array of housing options for the city's diverse population. This new zoning classification allows for the construction of multi-family buildings with five to eight units, a slight increase over the previous cap of four units found within the RT4 district. As reported on Milwaukee's Governmental website, this change passed on Tuesday, April 22, and it marks a strategic move to diversify the kind of homes available in Milwaukee.
Common Council President José G. Pérez, the driving force behind the draft, expressed his ambition to "continue to push the envelope to provide a wide variety of housing types for City of Milwaukee residents." The RT5 district isn't automatically assigned to any properties within the city; any parcel designation modifications must go through a transparent public approval process. Addressing design standards, this newly minted zoning district mirrors those of RT4 with some adaptations to make room for potentially larger buildings.
President Pérez, in statement echoed by the city's release, emphasized the importance of Milwaukee's housing reflecting its residents' diversity. "We are a diverse city that needs a unique and diverse housing supply, and where applicable, RT5 zoning will add to that menu of options, setting forth design and placement standards for these small to mid-sized developments," he told the press. This sentiment stretches beyond the rhetoric into actionable legislation that could transform the city's urban landscape in the years to come, as per the City of Milwaukee website.
The council's adoption of the RT5 district comes with a wave of gratitude from Pérez towards his colleagues who co-sponsored the legislation. He aims to ensure that the new zoning district will act as a tool for urban growth that can adapt to meet the housing needs of Milwaukee's citizens. As the city looks forward, the RT5 zoning serves as a testimony to the Council's commitment to actively diversifying the housing stock in a manner that's congruent with the varying needs of its populace.
