The Janesville City Council will decide next month whether to approve an ordinance change to allow for first-floor residential occupancy of downtown buildings.
The city’s plan commission voted to recommend approving the proposal during their meeting Monday night.
Planning Director Duane Cherek said one of the criteria in the proposed ordinance is that the building would still have to use at least 25 percent of its first floor space for commercial use.
Council member Doug Marklein believes the costs of preparing buildings for first-floor residency would likely limit the concept to bigger downtown buildings rather than small storefronts.
The Monterey Hotel was floated as a potential candidate for first-floor living spaces. Riley Grafft spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting on behalf of the Grafft family that owns the building and said they would be in favor of the ordinance change.
“It’s yet to be seen how many units could potentially be moved to the first floor,” Grafft said. “But it certainly is something that is under consideration.”
