Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Plan Commission recommends against declaring 214 East Wall Street surplus after heavy public comment
Summary
The Janesville Plan Commission on May 19 recommended that the City Council not declare 214 East Wall Street surplus and not proceed with conveyance, after receiving extensive public input and staff briefings on funding deadlines and parking impacts.
The Janesville Plan Commission on May 19 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council not declare the city-owned property at 214 East Wall Street surplus and not proceed with a conveyance to a developer.
City manager Kevin Lehner and staff presented the request as the initial step in a possible sale. Lehner said the city is pursuing the item now because time-sensitive funding is available: $1,000,000 in HOME program funds that must be committed by September 2026, $1,500,000 awarded from Rock County ARPA funds that must be spent by December 2026, and the potential for noncompetitive low-income housing tax credits through WHEDA contingent on WHEDA’s competitive awards schedule. Lehner said the developer needs control of the property to pursue the tax credits and other financing.
City staff member Jimsey (last name not specified in the record) told the commission that 214 East Wall Street is a city-owned surface lot of roughly 0.61 acres. A city parking study completed in 2023 found the surrounding area’s parking occupancy at about 39 percent; staff said removing the surface lot for redevelopment would eliminate 71 stalls and increase area occupancy to roughly 46 percent. Staff recommended declaring the site surplus to promote downtown redevelopment, but noted the plan commission had not reviewed financial aspects of any eventual transaction.
Commissioners opened a public-input period (not a public hearing) and heard from a large number of downtown residents and business owners; staff reported receiving 89 written comments. Speakers opposed and supported the proposal. Concerns raised by opponents included loss of parking, impacts on nearby historic buildings (including the Carriageworks building), safety and sanitation in the adjacent parking ramp, limited green space for children, and the presence of nightlife and bars near the proposed family housing site. Supporters said downtown parking appears underused per the city study, that the project would convert a city liability into a tax-generating asset, and that available federal and county funds would otherwise be spent elsewhere.
Examples of public comment in the record: - Todd Kimball: “This site is absolutely the worst site that could be for this project.” - Brian Donnelly: “I think the Arise plan has done a great job of guiding us to improving downtown.” - Max Ryan (support): “If we don't approve this or a similar project, we're still gonna pay for affordable housing, but just in other communities.”
After public input and commissioner discussion, Commissioner Williams moved to find that 214 East Wall Street is not surplus, and to find that disposition of the property is not consistent with established city plans and to recommend that the City Council not proceed with the conveyance; Commissioner Squire seconded. The commission adopted the motion by voice vote; all six members present voted yes (Commissioner Madera was absent). The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for its meeting on May 27, 2025. Staff said written comments submitted to the commission would be forwarded to the council.
City staff reiterated that this action by the plan commission is a recommendation; the city council retains authority over surplus declarations, the sale process and any financial terms.
