Waukesha County Business Alliance chair urges action on affordable housing
Fifteen years after launching initiatives to strengthen the local workforce, the Waukesha County Business Alliance is now highlighting a new challenge: affordable housing for young professionals. In an op-ed published in The Freeman, Alliance Chairman Chuck Palmer addressed how high home prices and limited starter homes are making it difficult for graduates to stay in the county.
Palmer shared a personal example, describing his son’s journey through programs like Schools2Skills and expanded technical education at Kettle Moraine High School. Despite earning an engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and working locally as an engineer, his son still lives at home due to a lack of affordable entry-level housing.
“Entry-level houses are priced around $500,000 in the county, and a combination of anti-housing sentiment, outdated zoning and land use regulations, and escalating construction costs have thwarted efforts to build homes that fill this gap,” Palmer wrote.
He argued that this issue is not just about individual families but affects broader talent retention. Young adults hoping to start families or buy homes face barriers that could drive them out of the area. Palmer suggested building smaller homes on smaller lots as one solution. He noted historical examples: “The typical home purchased by a GI returning from World War II was just 983 square feet, compared to today’s average new home of 2,400 square feet.”
Palmer said such approaches are consistent with strategies used elsewhere and align with existing municipal comprehensive plans across Wisconsin. He called for empowering local planners to implement adopted plans without delays that increase costs.
“Housing is not an isolated issue. It underpins the Alliance’s core priorities, workforce development, infrastructure, and economic growth,” Palmer stated. He warned that inadequate housing can lead to longer commutes for workers, declining school enrollment, and potentially falling home values if younger people cannot enter the market.
These concerns are reflected in the Alliance’s 2026 policy agenda, which focuses on workforce development, infrastructure improvement, and economic growth as key factors in maintaining a strong business climate.
“The path forward is clear: deliver attainable, family-friendly housing options across Waukesha County municipalities; support planners in implementing adopted comprehensive plans; and keep decisions focused on long-term community outcomes,” Palmer concluded. “If we get housing right, we will retain talent, sustain strong schools, and reinforce the economic foundation that makes Waukesha County an exceptional place to live and work.”
He also emphasized that even current homeowners who do not need to hire or retain employees will be affected by these challenges: “Even if you are not young, and do not need to hire/retain employees, if you own a home, the lack of attainable housing for the next generation is going to impact you.”