The City of La Crosse has begun the process of updating Confluence, the City of La Crosse’s Comprehensive Plan via Forward La Crosse, a campaign to encourage public involvement in the planning process.
We are asking Neighborhood Associations and city residents to provide the City with their vision on what land uses make sense, or they are comfortable with, in their own neighborhood to assist with developing a Future Land Use Map.
This map is highly referenced and used when City staff and elected officials are making recommendations and decisions on land use proposals, such as rezonings, in your neighborhood.
Please follow the directions below to complete survey and send additional feedback to acklint@cityoflacrosse.org.
- Familiarize self with descriptions of future land use categories.
- Familiarize self with scoring options.
- Complete survey, scoring each land use category with either D (desirable), A (allowable) or U (undesirable).
Descriptions of future land use categories:
Existing Uses
Uses that currently exist and deemed appropriate even if they no longer fall within the preferred category of uses within a particular Neighborhood, District or Corridor. No property has to change to comply, instead if zoning change is sought it isn’t automatically “allowable.”
Low Density Residential
Predominantly made up of single-family structures. Two- and three-unit dwellings are permitted, and may have been converted from single-family structures, and typically one-two story. Larger densities, townhomes or rowhomes may be compatible especially if developed to fit a single-family mold. Low-density should be walkable with an interconnected street and sidewalk system. Low-density areas should be developed with varying degrees of styles to accommodate a range of socio-economic factors.
Medium Density Residential
Medium density may include more variety of housing types than low-density, such as rowhouses, small multi-family buildings, and large multi-family buildings. They are typically two-four stories. Medium density are located as interconnected with surrounding neighborhoods as part of a complete neighborhood providing access to a variety of uses and amenities through enhanced walkability and connectivity. Both owner-occupied and rental units may exist in this category.
High Density Residential
High density typically includes multi-family, owner-occupied and rental units in structures taller than three stories. Similar to medium density, high density is located in areas with major streets, employment/commercial areas, and a mix of uses to provide convenient access to residents and amenities.
Neighborhood Mixed Use: Residential/Commercial
May include relatively small existing and planned activity centers that include a variety of uses such as residential, retail, restaurant, service, institutional, and civic uses primarily serving existing neighborhoods and their residents. Design and layout is typically compact and walkable and nearby transit. Development should be transit-oriented, even if transit doesn’t currently exist.
Downtown Mixed-Use
Used to delineate areas of higher-intensity mix of uses, which can be located within the core of the downtown as well as outside the core but still appropriate for a higher intensity of mix of uses. These areas could include government and large employment centers along with more traditional mix of uses: residential, retail, commercial/office, restaurant. Transit- orientated development is a priority.
Neighborhood Retail/Commercial
Neighborhood retail, walkable, small-business, small format, independent businesses with walk-up customers. Can include office and larger commercial spaces, focus is on walkability.
Commercial
Commercial and office uses: can include corporate, retail, services and other commercial/consumer-based land uses providing consumer and employment opportunities. Includes businesses considered bigbox, drive-up with expansive parking, suburban in design, car dealerships. May not generally include a residential component like mixed-use categories. But could include residential in lighter industrial uses such as maker spaces, art lofts, and dual purpose live-work uses.
Industrial
Includes manufacturing, wholesale, storage, distribution, transportation, repair/maintenance and utility uses. Can also include “nuisance” uses that should not be located in proximity to residential, neighborhood mixed-use, and other non- residential uses due to noise, odor, appearance, traffic or other impacts.
Institutional
Includes government buildings, structures, and campuses, as well as public community facilities and civic buildings where residents and visitors gather. The category also reflects the major university, healthcare, and other large employment centers. (Including but not restricted to: UW-La Crosse, Western, Viterbo, Gunderson and Mayo), including public schools.
Parks
Includes public parks, recreation areas, private recreation uses (such as golf courses), cemeteries, stormwater management, public trails and other natural features that create a park-like setting.
Conservancy, Wetland, Agricultural
Represents marsh, greenways, and other natural areas represented as preservation corridors and natural areas and may function as natural drainage or expansion of the Mississippi River corridor. Includes also wooded and steep slope areas. Can also include areas of cultural and historic significance. Also represents any land or parcel used for agricultural purposes. Agricultural uses typically located at the periphery of the city and not adjacent to higher intensity uses.
Scoring Options
Desirable – These uses should be encouraged to support the character and goals for the area.
Allowable – These uses are appropriate for the area, but may require additional consideration to fit the vision for the area.
Undesirable – Generally, these uses should not be encouraged, but may still be acceptable under special circumstances.
Weigent-Hogan Neighborhood Association 