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Historic Commission keeps 12-day submission window for Certificate of Appropriateness; staff to check ordinance
Summary
After discussion, the Janesville Historic Commission expressed preference to retain a 12-day advance submission deadline for Certificates of Appropriateness and asked staff to confirm whether a longer deadline would require an ordinance amendment. Commissioners also discussed appointing two members to conduct on-site reviews when needed.
The Janesville Historic Commission discussed revisions to the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) application form on May 20 and expressed general agreement to retain a 12-day advance submission deadline while asking staff to confirm whether changing the deadline would require an ordinance amendment.
Staff told the commission that comments had suggested using calendar days rather than business days and proposed either 10, 12 or 14 days as possible deadlines. Staff noted a 10-day deadline could fall on a Saturday and reduce staff time to assemble materials, and that shortening the notice could leave commissioners with only eight days of packet review in practice.
Several commission members said 12 days struck the right balance between allowing applicants and staff time to prepare and giving commissioners two weekends to review materials. One commissioner observed that 14 days might be more familiar to the public but voiced support for keeping 12 days; another said the 12-day timing places packet availability on a Friday, enabling adequate review time.
On site inspections, staff said the commission's typical practice has been to appoint two commissioners to review projects on-site when warranted. Commissioners discussed changing the application language from "may be appointed" to a stronger statement that two commissioners will be assigned for on-site reviews. Staff said they would revise application language as appropriate and would confirm any changes that would require ordinance amendments.
No formal motion was recorded on the COA form changes during the meeting. Staff indicated they would research the ordinance and report back at a future meeting if changes to the deadline require a formal ordinance update.
