Historic commission reviews updated Certificate of Appropriateness form; adoption deferred

The Janesville Historic Commission reviewed a revised Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) application form at its May 6 meeting but did not adopt it; commissioners asked staff for small clarifications and requested more time to review before final approval.

Staff member Mackenzie Wilcox presented the updated draft form and explained changes intended to provide clearer instructions for applicants and to align some fields with the state historical society’s tax-credit application so homeowners would not need to complete substantially different forms. Commissioners praised the additional guidance but raised questions about specific language: the form requires materials be submitted “at least 12 days prior to the historic commission meeting.” Members asked whether that meant 12 calendar days or business days and suggested using a clearer phrasing (for example, two weeks or a defined number of business days). Members also discussed whether applicant attendance at the meeting should be required and noted that the practical risk of nonattendance is a potential delay to the project review.

Mackenzie and staff said the form includes the commission’s meeting schedule (first and third Tuesdays at 5 p.m.) and that staff typically invite applicants to accompany site visits but do not make attendance mandatory. Several new members requested time to review the form and provide written comments before final action; one member said she would submit comments in advance if she could not attend the next meeting. The commission did not vote to adopt the revised COA form on May 6.