Historic commission approves replacement fence at 623 East Court Street

The Janesville Historic Preservation Commission on July 1 approved a certificate of appropriateness for a replacement fence at 623 East Court Street.

The commission approved Certificate of Appropriateness 2025‑06623 after a site visit and discussion of the existing fence’s condition and the proposed material. Planning staff presented photos and said the existing fence dated from the 1980s and was in a state of disrepair; the property owner, Dale Griffith, documented that replacement was needed and that repair costs were prohibitive. The proposed work calls for an aluminum, powder‑coated fence similar in appearance to other approved replacements in the historic overlay.

Commission members and staff discussed visual similarity and dimensions. Planning staff said the vendor’s standard lines produce a 4‑foot fence and that the proposed replacement would be roughly 5.5 inches taller than the existing section; the front gate would be a single gate rather than the double gate currently in place. Commissioners confirmed that other nearby properties have comparable fences previously approved by the commission. It was also clarified that only the portion shown in the application is to be replaced; remaining fence sections would not be replaced as part of this approval.

A motion to find that the proposed project met the criteria for a certificate of appropriateness was moved and seconded; the commission voted in favor. The chair called for all in favor to say “aye,” and hearing none opposed the motion passed.

The approval authorizes the use of the specified aluminum, powder‑coated fence as presented in the COA application. No amendments to the application were recorded at the meeting. Staff noted that photos and documentation had been provided to show the existing fence was not original to the property.

The commission moved on to other agenda items following the vote.