Menards may not be doing anything new, with its old store in Janesville, anytime soon. The home improvement retailer was asking for a conditional-use permit from the city to use its empty facility on Pontiac Place to temporarily store mass quantities of paint for distribution to other Menards locations in the region. The city’s plan commission shot down the idea Monday night. City staff and four commissioners argue the warehousing is inappropriate for the retail dominated area. The site was turned down in 2013 for another warehousing proposal. City Planning Services Manager Duane Cherek says he’s worried about a pattern of warehousing being established there. Some commission members also worry warehousing would jeopardize sale of the property. Company officials however say that wouldn’t have gotten in the way.
