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Janesville council advances code amendments to simplify lot splits, allow accessory structures on adjacent vacant lots
Summary
The council held a public hearing and moved to adopt amendments to city code chapter 151 to simplify administrative lot splits and allow accessory structures on adjacent vacant lots in R1 and R2 zones while retaining a 900-square-foot limit; the change takes effect after publication.
The council held a public hearing on proposed changes to city code chapter 151 that would streamline administrative lot splits and permit accessory structures — such as sheds or garages — to be built on a vacant lot adjacent to an owner's primary residence in R1 and R2 zoning districts.
The presiding officer explained the proposed changes would simplify the lot-split process and allow an owner of a vacant neighboring lot to apply for a building permit for an accessory structure without first combining lots. The council confirmed the 900-square-foot size restriction for accessory buildings would remain in place.
Staff said the amendment would be published in the local paper and would take effect upon publication. A council member moved to adopt the staff recommendation; the motion was seconded and the council closed the public hearing and approved the recommendation.
Why it matters: the change is intended to make it easier for homeowners to make productive use of adjacent vacant lots for accessory structures while keeping size limits to retain neighborhood scale. The council framed the amendment as an administrative simplification rather than a zoning reclassification.
Next steps: staff will submit the summary for publication; the amendment becomes operative once published in the newspaper.
