Plan Commission Meeting - April 6, 2026
Plan Commission Meeting - April 6, 2026
The Janesville Plan Commission met on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included a recognition of the late Commissioner Doug Marklein, public hearings on amending the sign ordinance and poultry regulations, and approvals of utility easements and building plans. All votes were unanimous, and several items were forwarded to the City Council for April 27, 2026.
Recognition of Commissioner Doug Marklein
- State Senator Mark Spreitzer, Representative Brianne Brown, and legislative assistant Owen Templeton presented a citation from the Wisconsin Legislature honoring Doug Marklein's life and public service. Marklein served on the City Council (2013-2023), Plan Commission, and numerous other boards. His widow, Jean, accepted the citation.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from March 16, 2026.
- Final Plat of Rockport Ridge Estates Eighth Addition.
- Certified Survey Map 26004-T (Hill O Farms Inc., 1 lot along Henke Road).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rebecca VM (CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Janesville, 200 West Court Street) spoke in support of the sign ordinance amendment, noting that recognizing major donors like Print and Goex would show youth who supports them. She requested approval and welcomed a 30% cap on sponsor signage.
- Cassandra Pope (1511 King Street) spoke in support of the duck ordinance, citing food security and egg allergy benefits. She requested the commission recommend increasing the bird limit from 4 to 6.
- Bill Connors (Smart Growth Greater Madison) commented on the zoning code update, stating he needed more time to review the latest changes.
- A citizen (1511 King Street) expressed concern that data centers in the industrial districts are not subject to conditional use permits, hoping supplemental standards would address this.
Discussion Items
- Sign Ordinance Amendment (Ordinance 2026-928): Development Services Manager Vicky Miller proposed two changes: (1) allowing off-premises signage for major donors of registered nonprofit organizations, and (2) clarifying that sandwich board signs are only permitted in downtown Sign District D. The commission discussed percentage limits for sponsor signage to avoid overpowering the nonprofit's identity. They settled on a 30% maximum of the nonprofit's total signage area. The public hearing was held, and the commission voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the City Council with the 30% cap. The motion passed unanimously (5-0).
- Poultry Keeping Amendment (Ordinance 2026-932): Assistant City Manager Nick Faust presented a proposal to allow domestic ducks under the same regulations as chickens (up to 4 birds, no roosters/drakes, coops and runs). The ordinance adds a 6-foot height limit, requires animal-proof containers for feed and compost, prohibits mixed flocks (due to bird flu concerns), and mandates reporting of unusual illness or death to DATCP and Rock County Public Health. The Sustainable Janesville Committee had recommended allowing both ducks and chickens in separate enclosures and increasing run sizes. The commission discussed enforcement and reporting timelines. They approved a motion to forward a favorable recommendation to the City Council, adding amendments requiring animal-proof containers for both chickens and ducks and incorporating intergovernmental cooperation with DATCP and Rock County Public Health. The motion passed unanimously (5-0).
- Utility Easement Conveyance to Alliant Energy: Planner Trey Meyer presented a request for a 25-foot by 25-foot easement at 100 Momentum Drive for a gas regulator station to serve the Innovation Park expansion. The station would be screened with bollards and arborvitae. Staff recommended approval. The commission voted unanimously to forward a favorable recommendation to the City Council.
- Maintenance and Storage Buildings at Sanitary Landfill: Planner Trey Meyer presented plans for a 6,000 square foot maintenance building and covered vehicle storage at 801 Black Bridge Road. The buildings will be constructed with precast concrete panels and metal roofs, mirroring the City Services Center. They are not visible from public roads. The project is in the capital budget. The commission voted unanimously to endorse the design and location and forward to the City Council.
- Zoning Recodification Update: Planning Director Dwayne presented the latest draft of the zoning code, focusing on the land use table (Table 5.1) and dimensional standards. Key changes include removal of the Mixed Residential Housing (MRH) district, introduction of P1/P2/P3 designations for permitted uses with conditional use triggers for large developments, and streamlined review procedures. Staff requested feedback by the end of the week. The next review session is scheduled for April 20, 2026, with a public open house planned for early May 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Sign ordinance amendment: Forwarded to City Council (April 27) with recommendation to include a 30% cap on sponsor signage. Unanimous.
- Poultry keeping amendment: Forwarded to City Council (April 27) with amendments for animal-proof containers and intergovernmental cooperation. Unanimous.
- Utility easement: Forwarded to City Council (April 27) with favorable recommendation. Unanimous.
- Landfill buildings: Forwarded to City Council (April 27) with favorable recommendation. Unanimous.
- Zoning code update: No vote; staff will incorporate feedback and present updated Article 6 and Article 4 on April 20, 2026. Public open house anticipated in May 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'd like to call the Plan Commission meeting to order on Monday, April 6th, 2026, the first item on the agenda as roll call. Commissioner Squire. Here. Commissioner Fowlerman. Commissioner Madare here. Commissioner Vosgell? Here. Commissioner Don Garrow? Here. And Commissioner Williams. Here. Do we have a quantum? Thank you. I'm very pleased to report that the second item on the agenda is the recognition of Plan Commission member Doug Markline by the Wisconsin legislature. Tonight we're joined by Senator Mark Spreitzer and Representative Brene Brown. So I'd like you both to come up to the podium and Commissioner Williams, if you'd like to take it from here. Where was he like? Over here is probably here. Okay. There's people taking pictures. Well, I'm State Senator Mark Spreitzer, and uh pleased to be here with uh Representative Brown and also with Owen from Representative Anne Rowe's office. And uh we have a citation of commendation from the legislature that uh honors uh the life and service of Doug Markline, and so before I read that, I will let uh rep Brown and Owen say a few words. I just want to um thank the family of Doug. Uh we all know those of us who have um been in uh civic service uh that it takes a lot of time away from our families, a lot of time at nighttime as well. So thanks for you know sacrificing him. And um just as somebody who's been on many, many commissions, library boards, city councils as well before I went into the assembly, um, it really just makes me really um it I feel it deeply that um that somebody's willing to put that much time into their community. Thank you so much for the evening. I'm Owen Templeton, I'm a legislative assistant for representative. She's currently away with family. Really regrets missing this uh present presentation honoring Doug. First, uh she sends this statement. First, I extend my deepest sympathy to Doug's wife Jean and his family. Doug was truly a renaissance man, and we as a community are very lucky to have shared and and benefited benefited from his skills, leadership, career as a builder, city council member, and DJ. I met Doug a while back when he was graciously met with me at the Janesville Women's Club building as we struggled struggled to solve the mystery of recurring water damage. He took time to listen and help us identify the problems simply because he had heard we had trouble. Later I got to catch up with him at Morning Rotary Club. Definitely takes a special person to meet at 6 30 a.m. every Thursday. Doug is a great role model, and I miss him dearly. Thank you. And I would just add, um, I uh overlapped uh with with him on City Council in in two different communities. I was on the Bloyd City Council for the first two years that he was here on the Janesville Council and uh had a chance with then Representative Sue Conley to present uh a citation similar to this one to him when he retired from the council three years ago. Um, but it's uh privilege to to be back to recognize his uh full life in public service, which uh as Brianne noted included many, many committees, uh including this one. So thank you, Paul, for suggesting that the plan commission would be an appropriate uh opportunity to recognize him. Uh the citation reads, whereas Douglas Doug Markline was born on January 6th, 1956 and passed away on January 21st, 2026, surrounded by his family. And whereas Douglas graduated from Janesville Craig High School in 1974 and from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1979 with a degree in construction administration, and whereas Douglas prioritized public service throughout his lifetime through his service on the Janesville City Council as the owner of Markline Brothers, where he designed over 2,000 homes, and through his work as a DJ at WORT FM, where he shared his passion for music for 44 years. And whereas Douglas served as a member of the Janesville City Council from 2013 to 2023, where he impartially served the citizens of Janesville, including serving as president of the City Council in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2021. And whereas Douglas served as a member of the Community Development Authority, Plan Commission, Downtown Development Alliance, Audit Committee, Janesville Metropolitan Planning Organization, Policy Board, Sustainable Janesville Committee, and the Woodman's Sports and Convention Center Design Committee. And whereas Douglas helped revitalize the City of Janesville by securing funding for the replacement of all 17 JTS buses, creating the Business Improvement District, completing the West Side Town Square, implementing overnight parking to create safer places for persons experiencing homelessness and removing the Monterey Dam.
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