Protestors gather outside the Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center in Janesville in November 2025, prior to a city council meeting at which the council ultimately voted 5-2 to move forward with further exploring the idea of putting a data data center on the former GM/JATCO site on the southside.
Protestors gather outside the Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center in Janesville Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, prior to a city council meeting at which the council ultimately voted 5-2 to move forward with further exploring the idea of putting a data data center on the former GM/JATCO site on the southside.
Protestors gather outside the Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center in Janesville in November 2025, prior to a city council meeting at which the council ultimately voted 5-2 to move forward with further exploring the idea of putting a data data center on the former GM/JATCO site on the southside.
GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Protestors gather outside the Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center in Janesville Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, prior to a city council meeting at which the council ultimately voted 5-2 to move forward with further exploring the idea of putting a data data center on the former GM/JATCO site on the southside.
JANESVILLE — The Janesville City Council is expected to take its first formal step Monday on a citizen-led request to adopt a new ordinance on data center development at the former GM/JATC site.
A proposed ordinance, backed by the grassroots coalition No Janesville Data Center, will get a first reading at the council’s Monday, Jan. 26 meeting. Additional materials, including a staff memorandum outlining the process and legal considerations, are expected to be posted on Monday.
The council is expected to then schedule a public hearing for Feb. 9.
City officials said the Jan. 26 first reading is procedural in nature, with more detailed staff analysis to be provided ahead of the Feb. 9 council meeting and public hearing.
If adopted, the ordinance would require the city council to submit any future development project at the city-owned former GM/JATCO site, with a total project cost of $450 million or more, to voters in a referendum.
The request follows a direct legislation petition drive launched in November. Organizers submitted 4,674 signatures to the city clerk earlier this month. Under state law, the city clerk has 15 days to certify the petition, a step that formally sends the proposal to the council for action.
State law further requires that once a petition is certified, the city council has 30 days to either adopt the proposed ordinance or submit it to voters at the next spring or general election.
City Clerk Lori Stottler certified Wednesday that the signatures on the petition were valid.
Assistant to the City Manager Nick Faust said city staff are working on materials to accompany the ordinance and said the depth of staff input will increase as the process moves forward.
“The first reading is meant to get the item before council and set the public hearing,” Faust said. “Staff are continuing to review the ordinance to ensure it complies with state statute, and we’ll provide more detailed information and analysis ahead of the Feb. 9 meeting so council has what it needs to weigh in.”
According to a recent release, grassroots coalition No Janesville Data Center requested that the city council take action at its Jan. 26 meeting.
Council members Joshua Erdman and Heather Miller have requested that Monday’s agenda include a first reading on a proposed ordinance that that the city act Monday night to schedule a public hearing for the Feb. 9 council meeting.
“Thousands supported this initiative,” Cassandra Pope, a petition organizer with No Janesville Data Center, said in a release Wednesday. “More Janesville residents supported this petition than voted to put current Councilmembers Williams or Squire into office in 2024.”
“The city has had over 70 days to plan to bring this item before council for action. We expect to see this on the agenda for Monday, Jan. 26, so that it can be adopted or referred to voters in time for the April elections.”
Opponents of a proposed data center on the 250-acre GM/JATCO site on Janesville’s southside have argued that if the ordinance is not placed on the Jan. 26 agenda, the issue could be delayed until a November election, which they say would limit public involvement in decisions related to the GM/JATCO site.
At the same time, city staff continue to work on a purchase agreement with Viridian Partners for a proposed data center complex in Janesville. No Janesville Data Center says the potential development could fall within the parameters of the proposed ordinance.
No Janesville Data Center is encouraging residents to contact city council members and to attend the Jan. 26 meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 18 N. Jackson St.
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