Janesville Plan Commission Meeting Summary - March 16, 2026
Janesville Plan Commission Meeting Summary - March 16, 2026
The Janesville Plan Commission held a regular meeting on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting covered routine approvals, public hearing scheduling, a zoning recommendation on annexation, and updates from the Director's Report. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the March 2, 2026 Plan Commission meeting were approved without discussion.
- Approval of Final Plats and Certified Survey Maps: None were presented for review.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the public hearing for the zoning item. The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers.
Discussion Items
-
Setting Public Hearings (April 6, 2026):
- Proposed ordinance amendment (Ordinance No. 2026-928) to allow off-premises signage for major donors of non-profit organizations and clarify regulations for sandwich board signs in the downtown Sign District D.
- Proposed ordinance amendment (File Ordinance No. 2026-932) to permit ducks within city limits under poultry-keeping regulations. Both items were set for public hearing on April 6, 2026, without further discussion.
-
Old Business – Zoning on Annexation:
- Staff Planner Trey Meyer presented a request to zone 12.8 acres of property located between USH 14 and the northerly terminus of Hemingway Drive to R1 (Single and Two-Family Residence District) and B3 (General Commercial District) upon annexation. The property is owned by Advantage Homes and Compier Financial, who plan a residential subdivision and an office building, respectively. The zoning is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Staff recommended a favorable recommendation to City Council. No comments were received during the public hearing.
-
Director's Report:
- Director Dwayne announced a city session on data center water usage on March 23, 2026, at 5:15 PM.
- Provided a status update on the zoning code update project, noting that significant changes to development standards and dimensional requirements will be presented to the Plan Commission in April. Work also continues on subdivision ordinance revisions and a third open house for remapping. A commissioner requested the timeline be shared via email.
Key Outcomes
- Zoning Recommendation (unanimous, 7-0): The Plan Commission voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the City Council for zoning the annexed property (USH 14/Hemingway Drive) to R1 and B3. The City Council public hearing is scheduled for April 13, 2026.
- Set Public Hearings: Approved without objection for April 6, 2026, for the sign ordinance amendment and the poultry-keeping (ducks) amendment.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'd like to call the Plan Commission meeting to order on Monday, March 16th, 2026. First order on the agenda is roll call. Commissioner Squire. Here. Commissioner Bowerman. Here. Commissioner Madare. Here. Commissioner Voskell? Here. Commissioner Dongera? Here. And Commissioner Williams. Here. Thank you. The approval of minutes are on fall under consent unless seeing otherwise from March 2nd, 2026. So moved, which moves us to item number three, the approval of final plats and certified survey maps and easement releases. There are none to review this evening. Which moves us to item number four, set for public hearing on a proposed ordinance, amending the signed ordinance regulations within Chapter 28, signs of the Code of General Ordinances of the City of Janesville to allow off premises signage for major donors of nonprofit organizations and to clarify regulations for the use of sandwich board signs in the downtown sign district D. Ordinance number 2026-928. That's set for public hearing on April 6th, 2026. The other item set for public hearing this evening is on a proposed ordinance amendment altering regulations on poultry keeping within the city limits to permit ducts. File ordinance number 2026-932. That is also set for public hearing on April 6th, 2026. Which moves us to item number five, old business, the public hearing zoning of property located between U.S. Highway 14 and the northerly terminus of Hemingway Drive to R1, single and two family residence district and B3, General Commercial District upon annexation. Trey. Good evening, Plan Commission. Trey Meyer Planner. Doug Scott, on behalf of Advantage Homes and Compier Financial has submitted a valid unanimous petition to Annex 12.8 acres of property located at the northerly extension of Hemingway Drive, south of Highway 14. You can see that property outlined in yellow on the map on your screen. The proposed annexation area consists of two separately owned parcels of land, which are contiguous to city limits on their south and west sides. The surrounding area is comprised primarily of single family residential development in the city, which is zoned R1 to the south and west, and a combination of commercial and agricultural lands in the town of Janesville to the north and east. The city has prepared separate ordinances to annex and zone the subject property to R1, single and two family residence district and B3 General Commercial District upon annexation, consistent with city plans. While the annexation does not require Plan Commission review, the zoning of property upon annexation must be referred to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation. Annexation and zoning of the property as requested are necessary to facilitate the two property owners' development plans for this area. Advantage Homes intends to propose a residential subdivision plat within the southern portion of the annexation area, while Compier Financial intends to reconstruct their office building on the northern portion of the annexation area. Future review of a proposed residential subdivision plat and review of Compere's plans for construction of a new office building will be required to facilitate the development plans as proposed. City's comprehensive plan designates the property as planned neighborhood and planned mixed use. The R1 district is listed in the comprehensive plan as an appropriate zoning district for properties with the planned neighborhood designation, and B3 is listed as an appropriate zoning district for properties with the planned mixed use designation. Therefore, application of the R1 and B3 district districts upon annexation is consistent with adopted city plans and are appropriate zoning classifications for the subject property. Staff sent out the requisite public notices for the public hearing. It did not receive any comments. Staff recommend that following the public hearing, plan commission forward the proposed zoning of property located between U.S. State Highway 14 and the northerly terminus of Hemingway Drive to R1 and B3 upon annexation to the city council with a favorable recommendation. And I can answer any questions you might have for staff. Thanks, Trey. Are there any questions of Trey? There are none.
openpublica.com