Janesville staff to release draft zoning sections that would move historic overlay into new code structure

City staff told the Janesville Historic Commission on Sept. 2 that draft text for a rewritten zoning and subdivision code — including a revised historic overlay district — will be posted online and presented to the Plan Commission in coming weeks.

The update would split historic-preservation rules across the new zoning code. The city’s consultant, Grama, is scheduled to present draft sections to the Plan Commission and the draft historic overlay division (in Article 5 of the new code structure) is expected to be released to the public “likely sometime next week,” according to Brian, a staff member who briefed the commission.

Why it matters: under the proposal, rules that now sit inside the zoning ordinance would be reorganized. One outcome would be an amendment to Chapter 2 (Administration) that would formally establish the Historic Preservation Commission in the same chapter that lists other boards and commissions. The change would separate the commission’s establishment from the zoning ordinance and retain a historic-overlay tool in the zoning code that triggers review requirements for projects within the overlay.

Commission members raised naming and terminology questions. The draft uses the term “certificate of historic appropriateness” in one division that addresses project-level review; some commissioners said they preferred keeping the established term “certificate of appropriateness.” Brian said the language is still draft and open to change, and that Article 4 provisions and the Chapter 2 amendment to establish the commission will be provided when available for review.

The city will provide commissioners with the draft overlay text and an updated table of contents for the rewritten code ahead of a scheduled discussion at the commission’s Sept. 16 meeting. Brian said the materials will be posted on the project website and shared with commissioners when posted.