Forward Janesville - TheReport - First Quarter 2022

6 • W W W . F O R W A R D J A N E S V I L L E . C O M The City of Janesville last updated its Comprehensive Plan in 2009. Comprehensive Plans are meant to be holistic growth management tools, and today they are required by state ‘smart growth’ planning legislation. “Growing in a smart, intentional, and sustainable way is essential for Janesville. The Comprehensive Plan is one tool among many to help accomplish that,” said City of Janesville Director of Planning Duane Cherek. To provide a bit of context, Janesville has been a planned community since 1920, when John Nolen’s City Plan was established (see 1920 City Planning Map). The most recent Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2009 and has been guiding development since, as illustrated by the City of Janesville Development Chronology map. Today, the City of Janesville is in the middle of a two- year process to update the 2009 plan to better re fl ect current and future priorities. Said Cherek, “The Comprehensive Plan is really a blueprint for future growth and development that cultivates and enhances the character of a city. The goal of planning is to help citizens and public of fi cials make informed decisions based on a thorough evaluation of community needs and desires.” Plan creation engages various city, business, and community organizations, as well as the public at large, to identify the most pressing needs of the community and chart a pathway towards a more thriving, healthy, and sustainable community. “Comprehensive Plans (CPs) are a key document that city of fi cials use to evaluate any proposed development. When a developer, home builder, or a business wants to build, the City of Janesville evaluates those proposals to ensure they are consistent with the CP,” said President and CEO of Forward Janesville, Angela Pakes. “As a community, we want to make sure we weigh in on what this plan looks like, and the City welcomes this collaboration as well.” A draft volume of existing conditions was released in 2021 to begin the Comprehensive Plan update process. This volume contains a wealth of data and analysis related to Janesville’s current needs and future growth. The City's Plan Commission acts as a steering committee for the update process, with the Planning Division organizing structured discussion about key changes to the comprehensive plan. New to this update are a suite of online engagement tools available on the City of Janesville’s website. The public is encouraged to participate in the Places of Janesville project, which involves a community mapping project and ideas wall. The Community Mapping Project is a creative platform for residents of Janesville to share stories about the vital places that make Janesville unique, support residents’ social and mental well-being, and create a high-quality place to live. This engagement project will run through the end of June 2022. Forward Janesville will be participating in this process and will keep members updated on progress. In the meantime, please share your thoughts and ideas through the online engagement tools and consider attending a steering committee meeting. Dates and times will be provided on the City of Janesville website a t www.janesville.wi.gov/planupdate and shared by Forward Janesville. DID YOU KNOW THAT JANESVILLE’S GROWTH IS GUIDED BY A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? Learn about the latest update and how to get involved COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ELEMENTS There are nine required plan elements, including the newly added Public Health Issues and opportunities Agricultural, natural, and cultural resources Transportation Utilities and community facilities Housing Economic development Land use Implementation Public health