On October 28, 2025, Mayor Satya-Rhodes Conway and the Madison Common Council introduced new Housing Forward proposals. The goal is to increase housing options in Madison. The proposals are the result of work done throughout 2025 to address the city’s housing needs.
One proposal would allow Cottage Courts. These are groups of up to eight detached homes, each no larger than 1,000 square feet, built around a shared courtyard. Cottage Courts would be allowed in most residential zones, except some high-density areas. The homes could be owned as condominiums or on small lots.
Another proposal would update the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) zoning overlay. It would allow drive-throughs in TOD areas if they are part of a three-story building that covers at least 60% of the lot. It would also allow up to four housing units on all residential lots within the TOD…