Zoning changes expand housing options in Green Bay

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - Green Bay is making changes to its zoning rules, opening the door to more housing options in neighborhoods that previously didn’t allow those options.

City leaders say the goal is to address housing needs while preserving the character of existing neighborhoods.

The zoning changes come after a comprehensive plan update where residents and stakeholders asked the city to take a closer look at how land can be used and what can be built.

“Trying to address affordable housing, which is an issue in Green Bay, throughout the state, throughout the country,” John Leroy, zoning administrator for the city of Green Bay, said...

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Leo`s notes: Green Bay’s decision to modernize its zoning code is a clear signal that cities can no longer afford to let outdated land-use rules stand in the way of housing opportunity. The reforms won’t solve the housing shortage overnight, but they represent a pragmatic shift toward flexibility—recognizing that affordability is as much about where and what we allow to be built as it is about subsidies or incentives.