Comprehensive Plan Work Group

MEETING MINUTES From: RDG Planning & Design Project Name: Whitewater Forward Meeting Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Whitewater Forward | Comprehensive Plan Working Group Meeting #2 Meeting Attendees Comments, additions, or corrections to this memo should be communicated in writing to RDG Planning & Design within seven (7) days of receipt. If no comments are received within that period, this memo will be assumed accurate and filed as part of the permanent record for this project. Elizabeth Anderson (Working Group Member) Mason Becker (City of Whitewater) Christ Christon (Working Group Member) Charlie Cowell (RDG Planning & Design) Corey Davis (Working Group Member) Llana Dostie (City of Whitewater) Ben Freiermuth (Working Group Member) Dave Friend (Working Group Member) Neil Hicks (Working Group Member) Brad Marquardt (City of Whitewater) Brian Schanen (Working Group Member) Orin Smith (Working Group Member) Maya Struhar (RDG Planning & Design) Terry Tumbarello (Working Group Member) Discussion This memorandum summarizes the items discussed during the meeting referenced above. A. Schedule Update 1. Recap of first Working Group Meeting discussions 2. Recap of process a. February is month four of twelve, and still in the discovery phase 3. Recap of hosted events that have occurred a. Eight listening sessions b. One community roundtable event 4. Recap of hosted events to come a. More listening sessions to occur b. Pop-up events beginning in March c. More public events, starting in April  2 B. Public Comments 1. None C. Project Website Updates 1. Number of visits to the project website 2. Number of unique visitors to the website 3. Number of contributions on the website 4. New website updates will occur as the process continues a. Pop-up events in March will be advertised b. The monthly poll will be updated monthly, and reminders will be sent via email D. Goals Exercise Working group members were asked to determine one “asset/opportunity” and one “weakness/barrier” for each of the below topics. Each bullet in quotations is a comment made by a working group member. These identified barriers and opportunities, along with conversations had during listening sessions, public events, and input made on the project website, will all be used to help guide the goals of the plan. 1. Land Use and Design a. Assets/Opportunities i. "More single family home developments" ii. "A lot of industrial land/zoning available" iii. "City has a lot of land available" iv. "City owned business park land" v. "Lots of opportunity around Hwy 12" b. Weaknesses/Barriers i. "Not enough land for larger houses and property; Ex. - Estates 1+ acre" ii. "Prime residential land is privately owned, unlisted" iii. "Land hoarding" iv. "Very regulated conditional use permitting" v. "State zoning requirements and impact on land use" vi. "Unaware of land available for larger industry near Hwy 12" 2. Transportation and Mobility a. Assets/Opportunities i. "Make US 12 4-lanes from Fort to Elkhorn" ii. "Hwy 12 and 59 access" iii. "Plentiful 2-lane state highway access in all directions" ....  3 iv. "More parking at WHS" v. "Lack of public transportation. This is an opportunity" vi. "Increased public safety" vii. "Community partnerships?" viii. "Commerce almost exclusively on Main Street or walking distance from Main" ix. "Extension of bike lanes and sidewalks north/east of town" b. Weaknesses/Barriers i. "Lack of 4-lane highway/interstate" ii. "Little public transport/ride-share" iii. "Funding public transit" iv. "Location/distance from large metro cities" v. "Late hours would be beneficial, but difficult to source" vi. "Lack of mass transportation in general" vii. "Public transportation; Lack of; Some sort of shuttle from W+E side town" viii. "Cost" ix. "Lack of connection to trains, including to nearby communities" 3. Parks, Trails, and Greenways a. Assets/Opportunities i. "Landmarks!" ii. "Lakes!" iii. "A support for parks and rec youth sports to compete with pay 2 play travel leagues" iv. "Better marketing" v. "Lots of parks available currently in good locations" vi. "Connect to existing walking/bike trails that runs Jefferson to Janesville" vii. "Multiple walking trails" viii. "Utilities for concession stand and restrooms at Moraine View Park behind Innovation Center (soccer fields) ix. "Kettle Moraine" x. "Kettle Moraine is a local draw" xi. "Starin Park" xii. "Great asset at Starin Park with Treyton's Field and 3 other baseball fields" xiii. "Starin Park" ....  4 xiv. "Starin water tower" b. Weaknesses/Barriers i. "Landmarks" ii. "Could use more paved trail routes that are near local businesses" iii. "Bike trail; Would like rural; Possibly community joining" iv. "Current condition of lakes" v. "Some parks/facilities need TLC" vi. "Many small parks that don't get used as much as Starin Park" 4. Housing and Neighborhoods a. Assets/Opportunities i. "There is a demand for affordable quality housing non-student" ii. "More entry-level single family homes - houses and condos and townhomes" iii. "More residents = More local economic impact" iv. "Convert UWW students to residents" v. "Intentional partnerships to keep or re-engage UWW and WWSD students, faculty, and staff" vi. "Room to grow" vii. "Increased support for renewing old housing" viii. "No real "bad" neighborhoods" b. Weaknesses/Barriers i. "Lack of single family, affordable housing" ii. "Not enough starter housing" iii. "Lending options to first-time home buyers" iv. "Single family housing; Need more 1st time home buyer; Need more "high" end to assist with upgrading first to second homes" v. "Inflation" vi. "Accessibility of entry level homes less than $300k" vii. "UWW is centrally located. Forces student housing to grow outward, taking up entry level homes" viii. "Student housing vs. resident housing development" ix. "Quality of rentals is geared towards students as temporary tenants, not residents" x. "Need family focused rentals (not chopped up student)" ....  5 xi. "Landlord push-back to family apartments" xii. "Not a lot of incentive to move and live in Whitewater" xiii. "Zoning" xiv. "Lack of upper scale housing and neighborhoods" xv. "Not enough single-family housing" xvi. "Newer (20 years and newer) neighborhoods/subdivisions are starting to show age. Lack of caring or lack of code enforcement?" xvii. "Community perception" 5. Facilities and Infrastructure a. Assets/Opportunities i. "Hwy 12" ii. "Library, etc. remodeled; Community resources" iii. "Newly remodeled library; Municipal building well maintained" iv. "Historic buildings" v. "High speed internet expansion (wired)" vi. "Upkeep of downtown armory" vii. "Aquatic center" b. Weaknesses/Barriers i. "Lack of 4-lane highway" ii. "Lack of 4-lane highway" iii. "Lack of suitable energy transmission to support industrial growth" iv. "Electrical supply to industrial park" 6. Downtown a. Assets/Opportunities i. "Unused commercial spaces" ii. "Creating public/city events; Food truck fest; Xmas/holiday parades" iii. "Creating community "feel" and space. Beautification into tangible impact" iv. "Large potential for annual events that cater all generations near Cravath downtown" v. "More local restaurants open weekdays for lunch" vi. "Collaboration with CoBE?" vii. "Most properties in reasonably good shape/appearance" b. Weaknesses/Barriers ....  6 i. "Empty storefronts" ii. "Neglected Center St. downtown" iii. "Center St. visually off-putting building; Empty storefronts as storage" iv. "Aging buildings" v. "Lack of store front businesses to utilize "Main Street" window front" vi. "Boring. Lack of character." vii. "Lots of opposition for local community events downtown" viii. "Lack of higher end shopping and dining" ix. "Fluctuation of the student population in Whitewater. Summer and school year" x. "Lakes: Overgrown; Not practical for use" 7. Economic Development a. Assets/Opportunities i. "Community development department" ii. "Business park" iii. "Partnerships with UWW CoBE?" iv. "UWW should bring opportunities to commercial and businesses to grow" v. "Grants" vi. "Downtown Whitewater/Chamber" vii. "Increased small business and independent job growth" viii. "Starting to see small commercial development that compliment size of town with direction to grow (Aldi, Kwik Trip, Fairfield, Starbucks)" ix. "4th of July" x. "More social/entertainment options" b. Weaknesses/Barriers i. "Stagnant growth; Low job creation due to slow industrial growth" ii. "Battles between which is first - housing or jobs" iii. "Not enough industry to support local jobs. High priority" iv. "Skilled workers" v. "Hard to attract/retain skilled workers" vi. "Businesses to keep people in town; Compatibility shopping" 8. Other a. Assets/Opportunities ....  7 i. "Coordination with local townships (Cold Spring, Town of Whitewater, etc.)" b. Weaknesses/Barriers i. "Lack of a newspaper for getting info out to community" ii. "Lack of strong local newspaper" iii. "Community engagement would be great! Is lacking" iv. "Flawed MSP payment formulas from state" 9. Next Steps a. Working Group Members i. Members to continue advertising the planning process and project website within their circles ii. Members to share any additional contacts for listening sessions iii. Members to share any meetings and events to promote the project b. Planning Team and Staff i. Continue to collect data and review past planning documents ii. Host additional listening sessions iii. Update the project website regularly iv. Prepare for April Design Workshop Next Working Group Meeting: Wednesday, March 11 at 4:00pm .... COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Work Group #2 AGENDA • Introductions • Schedule Update • Engagement Update • Goals Exercise INTRODUCTIONS Plan Advisory Work Group members • Neil Hicks – Common Council • Brian Shanen – Common Council • Orin Smith – Common Council • Sherry Stanek - PARC • Elizabeth Anderson - Generac Charlie Cowell Maya Struhar Flavia Tourek Project Manager + Planner + Engagement Urban Planner + GIS + • Corey Davis – Kiwanian, UWW Planner Communication • Rebecca Goodacre - Chamber • Terry Tumbarello - UWW Executive of Housing • Benjamin Freiermuth – WRA • Christ Christon - CDA and local business owner • Dave Friend - Whitewater School District Cory Scott Ryan Peterson Land Use + Mobility + Environments Districts ORIENTATION MEETING RECAP What does success mean to you? Process and/or Where can we go wrong? Process and/or outcomes. outcomes. - Sustainable plan between the community, school district, - Downtown is unappealing and confusing to navigate university, etc. that Is realistic - Stagnation, and the community is still recovering - Brings balance to the community, most growth has been from the pandemic, but there's movement now and related to the university in recent years (off-campus student growth happening that we can capitalize on and use housing) - The ability to sustain and be a thriving community without the as catalyst for the future university - There's flexibility within the plan to account for things - Limited housing availability for residents that are not students we can't predict – pandemics, recessions, etc. - Family housing options - The document can't just be a pretty picture, it should - Expanding commercial to include additional grocery, etc. be actionable - The entire community sees themselves in the plan - The plan should be cost-conscious - Lots of outreach and community sessions in multiple places at - Be something people can get excited about! multiple times of day to reach everyone, meet people where - Don't concentrate too much on the university – learn they are at - Preservation of city facilities, particularly the aquatic center how to grow and sustain without it and the downtown Whitewater armory - More activity options in the community that don't - Downtown, discover what comes next for the downtown involve drinking - Outreach in multiple languages, particularly Spanish AGENDA • Introductions • Schedule Update • Engagement Update • Goals Exercise  Nov Dec Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Task 1 Communications/Marketing Plan Task2 Task3 Task4 PLAN ELEMENTS Draft Plan to PMT Editing Task5 PMT Meetings '" '" "' "' APPROVAL "' "' "' "' PMT Outreach Outreach Issues and Emerging Design Review Review Review Implementation Final Trends Workshop Plan Elements Plan Elements Plan Elements Plan Review • Kick-Off Strategies Strategies Opportunities Work Group Meetings Orientation [Zoom] Goals Workshop Discuss Trends [Zoom] Attend Design Workshop "' Concept Feedback [Zoom or In-Person] Policy Feedback [Zoom] "' Implementation Workshop Major Events Launch @ Launch @ Focus Groups @ Design @ Online Polling @ Online Polling @ Open House Website Interactive Map & Roundtable Workshop PROCESS OVERVIEW Project Launch Input Today: Tomorrow: Tomorrow: Implementation Collect and Land Use & Special Plan Elements Analyze Data Area Concepts Approval SCHEDULE UPDATE Future Work Group Meeting Dates • March 11th: 4:00-5:15 p.m. – Work Group #3 (In-Person & virtual) – Trends and Goals Report • April 22, 4:00-5:15p - Work Group #4 (In-Person & virtual) – Design Workshop • June 3rd: 4:00-5:15 p.m. - Work Group #5 (Virtual) – Plan Elements I • August 5th: 4:00-5:15 p.m. - Work Group #6 (Virtual) – Plan Elements II • September TBD – Work Group #7 (In-Person & virtual) – Implementation AGENDA • Introductions • Schedule Update • Engagement Update • Goals Exercise ENGAGEMENT UPDATE Listening Session Schedule Date Time Group Additional Follow-ups Monday, February 9 6pm PARC • Whitewater Chamber Tuesday, February 10 9am Education • UWW Students 11:30am Service Providers • UWW Faculty and Staff 2:30pm Realtors • High School Students 4pm Builders and Developers • Retirement Communities 6pm Community Roundtable • Immigrant Support Coalition • Greater Whitewater Committee Wednesday, February 11 8am Business Owners 9:30am Property Managers • Service Organizations Noon City Staff • Realtors 1:30pm Major Employers ENGAGEMENT UPDATE Website Tracking 238 Website Views 159 Unique Visitors 8 Contributions ENGAGEMENT UPDATE Still Taking Input on Events to Plug Information • Business Cards • Comment Box • Idea Board AGENDA • Introductions • Schedule Update • Engagement Update • Goals Exercise GOALS EXERCISE Plan Focus Elements 1. Land Use and Design 2. Mobility 3. Parks, Trails, and Greenways 4. Housing and Neighborhoods 5. Facilities and Infrastructure 6. Downtown 7. Economic Development Other Items? GOALS EXERCISE Plan Focus Elements 1. Land Use and Design 2. Mobility 3. Parks, Trails, and Greenways Opportunities 4. Housing and Neighborhoods At least one 5. Facilities and Infrastructure per topic 6. Downtown 7. Economic Development Other Items? Weakness/ At least one per topic NEXT STEPS Advisory Work Group Planning Team/Staff • Promote the website and project • Data collection and document review • Share any additional contacts for listening • Hold additional virtual listening sessions sessions • Update website and monthly polls • Share any meetings and events to promote the • Prepare for April Design Workshop project NEXT WORKING GROUP MEETING MARCH 11  HITE ATER MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Work Group #2 WHITEWATER P�NNINGRGPg:••  AGENDA • Introductions • Schedule Update WHITE.WATER ... • Engagement Update • GoaIs Exercise r., ........ MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 -�-...·--- WHITEWATER r., .. .,., .......... , MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 P�NNINGRGPg: •• rm·-r-r  INTRODUCTIONS Plan Advisory Work Group members • Neil Hicks - Common Council t Charlie Cowell Maya Struhar D Flavla Tourek • • • • Brian Shanen - Common Council Orin Smith - Common Council Sherry Stanek - PARC Elizabeth Anderson - Generac Project Manager+ Planner+ Engagement Urban Planner+ GIS + • Corey Davis - Kiwanian, UWW Planner • Communication Rebecca Goodacre - Chamber • Terry Tumbarello - UWW Executive of Housing • Benjamin Freiermuth - WRA • Chris Christon - CDA and local business owner • Dave Friend - Whitewater School District .. Cory Scott Ryan Peterson Land Use + Mobility + Environments Districts _......... W HITEWATER R.Dg:•• r•ft ....... ,:, MOVINO T OGE TH ER T O W A R D 2 04 5 PLANNING•o,.11GN ORIENTATION MEETING RECAP What does success mean to you? Process and/or Where can we go wrong? Process and/or outcomes. outcomes. - Sustainable plan between the community, school district, Downtown is unappealing and confusing to navigate university, etc. that Is realistic Stagnation, and the community is still recovering - Brings balance to the community, most growth has been from the pandemic, but there's movement now and related to the university in recent years (off-campus student growth happening that we can capitalize on and use housing) as catalyst for the future - The ability to sustain and be a thriving community without the university There's flexibility within the plan to account for things - Limited housing availability for residents that are not students we can't predict - pandemics, recessions, etc. Family housing options The document can't just be a pretty picture, it should - Expanding commercial to include additional grocery, etc. be actionable - The entire community sees themselves in the plan The plan should be cost-conscious - Lots of outreach and community sessions in multiple places at Be something people can get excited about! multiple times of day to reach everyone, meet people where Don't concentrate too much on the university - learn they are at - Preservation of city facilities, particularly the aquatic center how to grow and sustain without it and the downtown Whitewater armory More activity options in the community that don't - Downtown, discover what comes next for the downtown involve drinking - Outreach in multiple languages, particularly Spanish P�NNINGBCPg•• I I ilill -r -11  AGENDA WHITEWATER � • Introductions • Schedule Update • Engagement Update - ... ·-- - rw , ........ ., • Goals Exercise MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 ...... -. . WHITEWATER -..-- ..,.....,,, r.,... MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 P�NNINGBGpg ..  Nov Dec Jan '26 Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Task 1 Communications/Marketing Plan Task2 Task3 Task4 PLAN ELEMENTS Draft Plan to PMT Editing Task 5 IMPLEMENTATION PMT Meetings JI& PMT Kick-Off •Outreach Strategies Ill Outreach Strategies "' • • • • Issues a n d OppQrtunities Ill Emerging Trends Design Workshop Rev10W Plan Elements Review Plan Elements Review Plan Elements I&\ Implementation Ill Final Plan Review Committee Meetings • Orientation [ZOOmJ • • • • Goals Workshop @ • Discuss Trends [Zoom] Attend Design WOrllshOp Concept Feedback [Zoom or In-Person] Policy Feedback [Zoom] • Implementation Workshop @ @ @ @ @ Events launch Launch Focus Groups Desrgn Online Polling Online Polling Open House Website Interactive Map & Roundtable Workshop T I � TI PROCESS OVERVIEW Project Launch .m Input Today: I Tomorrow: Tomorrow: Implementation C Collect and Land Use & Special Plan Elements Analyze Data Area Concepts , Approval  SCHEDULE UPDATE Future Work Group Meeting Dates tt • March 11th: 4:00-5:15 p.m. - Work Group #3 (virtual) - Trends and Goals Report • April 22, 4:00-5:15p - Work Group #4 (In-Person & virtual) - Design Workshop • June 3rd: 4:00-5:15 p.m. - Work Group #5 (virtual) - Plan Elements I • August 5th: 4:00-5:15 p.m. - Work Group #6 (virtual) - Plan Elements II • September TBD - Work Group #7 (In-Person & virtual) - Implementation .W..H.IT..E..W.A..TER RDg•• r•ft w. . . . . , ;, MOVING TOGETHER TO W A R D20 45 PLANNINGeO!SIGN I ,1111 Ii ------------------------------ r  AGENDA • Introductions WHITEWATER • Schedule Update .... ... r� ........ ., �� � • Engagement Update • GoaIs Exercise MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 _.........._ WHITEWATE R r., ......... ,.,.......... , MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 •�NNINGBGPg••  ENGAGEMENT UPDATE Listening Session Schedule tt Date Time Group Additional Follow-ugs Monday, February 9 6pm PARC • Whitewater Chamber Tuesday, February 10 9am Education • UWW Students 11:30am Service Providers • UWW Faculty and Staff 2:30pm Realtors 4pm Builders and Developers • High School Students • Retirement Communities 6pm Community Roundtable • Immigrant Support Coalition Wednesday, February 11 8am Business Owners • Greater Whitewater Committee 9:30am Property Managers • Service Organizations Noon City Staff • Realtors 1:30pm Major Employers .......... WHITEWATE.R r.,........ ,.,. ..... , MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 P�NNINGBCPg .. I 1111 II  ENGAGEMENT UPDATE 1-t Website Tracking 238 Website Views 159 Unique Visitors 8 Contributions ............... WHITEWATER r� .. ..,.._ .. ., MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 P�NNINGRGPg••  ENGAGEMENT UPDATE tt Still Taking Input on Events to Plug Information • Business Cards • Comment Box • Idea Board WHITEWATER -.---..---- r ........................ , MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 --.--r -!ill I II  AGENDA • Introductions WHITEWA TER • Schedule Update .... • Engagement Update • Goals Exercise r., ........ MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 ....... ._. WHITEWATER r.., ...... ,......... , MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 MNN1NGBaPg•• GOALS EXERCISE tt Plan Focus Elements 1. Land Use and Design 2. Mobility 3. Parks, Trails, and Greenways 4. Housing and Neighborhoods 5. Facilities and Infrastructure 6. Downtown 7. Economic Development Other Items? PLANNINGRPg •. I ' I 11111 i' If  GOALS EXERCISE Plan Focus Elements 1. Land Use and Design 2. Mobility 3. Parks, Trails, and Greenways Opportunities 4. Housing and Neighborhoods 5. Facilities and Infrastructure 6. Downtown 7. Economic Development �, - Other Items? [ - t_.. ...:•,·.;,_I • � l \\' ·, r,,-·,..--_-:, 1s·c;.·.·.,."•"'_·_,_-'_r'- 'I , ' A '" :. ,_. _! ',I /n, ' i -,. ~·' :-�·c\.:.:.:--�-�- .....:. ?�'-"-:.�L.i 1 _- a i I G);·l_;'.J�t::; rs 1.· �(;' '.�t�§�,_:0,1 :;J 1= �� Jsitc11Si:;t\\�} � [I� _.!_, -�· lilliaiii 1,. ��=�) ............. WHITEWATER r., .. .,. .......... ,, MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD 2045 P�NNINGBGPg••  NEXT STEPS Advisory Work Group Planning Team/Staff • Promote the website and project • Data collection and document review • Share any additional contacts for listening • Hold additional virtual listening sessions sessions • Schedule March 10th and 11th drop ins • Share any meetings and events to promote the • Update website and monthly polls project • Prepare for April Design Workshop ....- -.H-I.T-EWATER W M.. OV IN. G.TO. GE.. TH .T. ER .A. OW RD 204:5, RDg-• PLANNINGe DWGN ··, 11 f