Plan Commission forwards rezoning of 331 South Crosby Avenue to City Council

The Janesville Plan Commission on Monday voted 6-0 to forward a rezoning request for 331 South Crosby Avenue from B-2 Community Shopping District to R-3 General Residence District to the City Council for further consideration.

Trey Meyer, city planner, told commissioners the 0.38-acre site on the east side of South Crosby Avenue was rezoned to B-2 in about 2000 for nonresidential uses but has remained vacant. "The applicant is requesting the zoning designation be changed from B 2 Community Shopping District to R 3 General Residence District," Meyer said.

The applicant, identified in the file as owner Mike Farney, intends to construct a two-family dwelling. Preliminary plans presented to staff indicate each unit would include about 1,200 square feet of living space and a 400-square-foot attached garage. The city’s comprehensive plan designates the parcel for single-family residential urban uses, and staff said nearby zoning and land uses include industrial and residential districts that make an R-3 designation appropriate for a transition in this location.

No members of the public spoke during the public hearing. After the public hearing, Commissioner Mark Klein moved to forward the rezoning request to the City Council with a favorable recommendation; the motion was seconded and approved with six votes in support and one commissioner absent. Commissioner Mark Klein said, "I would move to forward the rezoning of 331 South Crosby Avenue from B 2 to R3 to the city council with a favorable recommendation." The commission noted the item is scheduled for the Jan. 27, 2025 City Council meeting for further discussion.

Staff recommended the planning commission forward the request with a favorable recommendation and indicated the property meets the underlying zoning requirements for the proposed two-family dwelling. The commission’s favorable recommendation does not itself change zoning; that action is reserved for the City Council.