Commission works on outreach script for new owners; staff reports five property ownership changes found since 2024

The Janesville Historic Commission reviewed a draft outreach script and list of topics Sept. 2 to guide members who contact new property owners in the Historic Overlay District.

Staff said Mackenzie and Allison had drafted a set of talking points and an initial script that could be supplemented with more detail and examples. The items recommended for inclusion ranged from how the overlay works and what a certificate of appropriateness covers to web links and staff contact numbers. Commissioners asked that the script include clear language explaining why some properties are inside the overlay and others are not, and requested tangible handouts (a copy of the COA and a brochure) to give to new owners in person.

On the list of new owners, Brian said the city's query returned five entries going back into 2024; staff excluded cases where recorded changes appeared to reflect a spouse death or internal ownership change that left an original owner living at the property. The staff member also said the planning division has sent basic mailings to overlay addresses that included an overlay brochure and a phone number for planning staff, though commissioners reported several recent new owners said they had not received any mailing. Commissioners asked staff to send realtor contacts and to flag any properties that the commission members identify but which did not appear on the generated list.

Staff said they will refine the script, add more detail and anticipated questions, and return with a revised draft at a future meeting (potentially October), subject to the zoning-code workload and draft timelines.