Menomonie Housing Committee Shares Recommendations

MENOMONIE, Wis. (WCFW / WSCM) – The Menomonie Housing Committee recently shared recommendations with the City Council for addressing the growing need for affordable housing.

Increasing affordability and overall housing stock has become a major focus for municipalities across western Wisconsin. The St. Croix Economic Development Corporation recently conducted a county-wide housing study which found the need for up to 4,600 new housing units by 2050. The city of Eau Claire has also struggled with a lack of overall housing stock, leading to low vacancy rates and limiting options to make existing housing more affordable.

A January report released by GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin also found that even moderate-income residents are struggling to find quality housing at an affordable price. The issue highlights one of the most significant challenges to expanding quality affordable housing, making it financially attractive for developers to build it.

The Menomonie Housing Committee’s recommendations were made with that challenge in mind. The committee shared three suggestions with the city council, two of which have already been adopted.

One suggestion would provide better incentives for tax increment financing, while another would ease restrictions for future developments. Committee members say those recommendations are meant to make construction more appealing to developers.

A third suggestion that has not yet been adopted by the city council is reducing the minimum lot size for single family homes. The move would allow for more units to be built, but changes that result in higher density housing typically see some pushback from community members with concerns of increased traffic or changes to the fabric of their neighborhoods.