A state law — even one without

A state law — even one without teeth — can exert a strong influence on municipal planners. Wisconsin’s law mandating that every municipality above 12,500 population adopt a traditional neighborhood development (TND) code has caused a unique outcome, at least in the relatively brief history of such codes. In Dane County (home of state capital, Madison), four municipalities are working together not only to approve TND codes, but to standardize them in certain ways. The Smart Codes Working Group includes representatives from Madison, Middleton, Fitchburg, and Sun Prairie — all subject to the law — plus county planner Steve Steinhoff, and a couple of developers of local TNDs. While the four codes will and should differ, Steinhoff says, the group is seeking to establish common nomenclature and street standards — with allowable widths as narrow as 26 to 28 feet. Steinhoff credits the state law with getting this group together. “As weak as the law is — it has no enforcement — it still provided enough incentive to get these municipalities moving.” Meanwhile, Rick Roll, a former head of planning and economic development in Sun Prairie who now works in the private sector, reports that Dane County is becoming a hotbed of TND. After a slow start, Middleton Hills, a new urban community designed by Duany Plater-Zyberk, “is doing very well,” he says. This built example has helped to inspire a half dozen more projects in various stages of planning and construction.