What to Know About Weyauwega’s Proposed Zoning Update - Public Hearing Wednesday, Feb. 4th, 2026

WEYAUWEGA - The City of Weyauwega is inviting residents to a public hearing on a proposed update to the city’s zoning ordinance, a rewrite officials say is intended to modernize the code and make it easier to use.

The hearing will be held Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 6:00 pm at the Weyauwega Municipal Building, 109 E Main Street. The hearing will be conducted by the City of Weyauwega Planning Commission and will focus on a proposed rewrite of Chapter 530 Zoning of the city’s municipal code that has been worked on for over a year. In practical terms, this means reorganizing and updating the existing zoning rules so they are clearer and easier to use, not changing how most properties in Weyauwega are currently used.

Zoning rules guide how land can be used throughout the city, including residential, business, and industrial areas. While the phrase “repeal and recreate” can sound significant, this proposal is primarily a cleanup and modernization effort that is taking place in cities, towns and villages all around Wisconsin.

According to the City, work on the zoning update began in early 2025. Officials say updates were needed to comply with current state statutes and zoning planning law, and to address obsolete, inconsistent, and redundant language. The goal of the rewrite is to make the zoning ordinance more simplified, streamlined, and user-friendly. City officials also indicated the update was not prompted by a specific issue, but simply that it was time to update the code.

Small communities are finding that a full chapter rewrite is the most practical and cost effective way for to update ordinances. Sadly, changing even a single word or line in a zoning ordinance can thousands of dollars once legal review, staff time, and required public notices and publication costs are included. Reviewing and updating a full section at one time greatly reduces repeated costs and allows city officials and residents to consider the rules as a whole instead of piecemeal.

The most significant change in the draft is the addition of Live and Work units in the Business and Industrial districts. This would allow a person to both live and operate a business in the same building, such as living above or attached to a shop or workspace. These uses would not be automatic and would still require city review and approval, and they would not apply to regular residential neighborhoods.

To help with the rewrite, the city is being assisted by Jeffrey Sanders with Community Planning and Consulting, LLC.

Planning Commission Members

The Weyauwega Planning Commission includes both elected officials and citizen members. Members include:

• Mayor Rich Luedke, Chair

• Alderperson Pat Gorchals

• Alderperson Meta Berg

• Citizen members Bob Anibas, Andy Rosenwinkel, Judy Nowak Behm, and Nick Gunderson

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How to Review the Draft and Submit Comments

The “Revised Pre-Public Hearing Draft Chapter 530” is available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s Office and or by clicking here for the city’s website. If you would like you to submit written testimony you may to the City of Weyauwega Plan Commission, Attn: City Clerk, 109 E Main Street or PO Box 578, Weyauwega, WI 54983, or emailed to the City Clerk by 12:00PM on February 4^th, 2026

Residents who want to learn more are encouraged to review the draft ordinance and attend the hearing to share comments or ask questions.

Have questions or concerns about the change and want your voice heard? Email us at events@weyauwegafremontnews.com.