Plan Commission 6/30/2025

The City of Eau Claire Plan Commission met on June 30, 2025, and considered a major update to the city’s development and zoning ordinances. Staff presented a consolidated Land Development Ordinance (LDO) to replace Municipal Code Titles 17 and 18, alongside Title 19 stormwater-management amendments. The LDO includes changes intended to support housing supply and affordability, clarify development standards, and address natural-resource protection, tree preservation, parking, subdivision design, and park access. The commission recommended approval of the LDO package, incorporating amendments to standardize garage projections and reduce the number of items required on a multifamily-building design checklist. Proposals to raise the lot-size threshold for tree mitigation and to change zoning in portions of the Third Ward and Randall Park from NR to GR failed. The related comprehensive plan amendment was approved 6–1. City Council consideration of the code update was scheduled for July; Council was also expected to consider a residential park impact fee in September.

Tree mitigation was a significant point of discussion: the proposed fee was $400 per inch for qualifying trees, and staff described potential costs for homeowners and infill projects. Speakers and commissioners debated how tree protection, neighborhood character, and affordability should be balanced. The commission also approved the June 16 minutes 7–0. No contracts, vendor selections, bids, or procurement awards were identified; the meeting focused on ordinance and land-use policy decisions rather than purchasing.