Council unanimously annexes 12.8 acres north of Hemingway Drive and approves R‑1/B‑3 zoning

The Janesville City Council unanimously adopted two ordinances on April 13 to annex 12.8 acres on the city’s north side (file ordinances 2026-927 and 2026-928) and to apply R‑1 (single‑ and two‑family residence) and B‑3 (general commercial) zoning consistent with the city's comprehensive plan.

Planning Director Dwayne Sherritt explained the annexation area consists of two separately owned contiguous parcels south of U.S. Highway 14 and north of the northerly extension of Hemingway Drive. The petition was submitted by Doug Scott on behalf of Advantage Homes and by Compier Financial for the parcel adjacent to Highway 14, Sherritt said; Advantage Homes plans a new phase of the nearby single-family subdivision on roughly eight acres and Compier Financial intends to build an office on the northern parcel.

Sherritt said the plan commission voted unanimously to forward the annexation and zoning recommendations to the council. The council opened and closed a public hearing with no in‑person speakers and no written comments, then voted to adopt both ordinances without amendment.

What this means: the annexation brings the parcels into city jurisdiction; rezoning to R‑1 and B‑3 aligns future development with the comprehensive plan. Staff and the petitioners will proceed with development planning subject to city review, permitting, and any required engineering or municipal approvals.