Historic preservation in Wisconsin local government
What Wisconsin city councils, county boards and school districts are deciding about historic preservation — plain-English summaries written from official agendas and minutes, updated as meetings happen.
715 Wisconsin meetings since 2024 covered historic preservation. Counts are directional — coverage varies by place and platform.
Places in Wisconsin with the most historic preservation activity
- Cedarburg, WI (51)
- Madison, WI (49)
- Milwaukee, WI (41)
- Edgerton, WI (36)
- Lake Geneva, WI (34)
- Menomonie, WI (33)
- Dane, WI (31)
- Ripon, WI (25)
- Neenah, WI (25)
- Reedsburg, WI (24)
- Wausau, WI (22)
- Stevens Point, WI (21)
Latest matching meetings
RDA to consider steel staircase incentive for 1 W Fulton St
The Edgerton Redevelopment Authority will meet to consider providing an incentive for the developer of 1 W Fulton Street (Dickinson Warehouse) to upgrade planned wooden staircases to steel, at an additional cost of $27,721 or $68,169 depending on vendor. The meeting includes a closed session to discuss the incentive…
Commission to review window changes for Teen Center and Dickinson Warehouse
The Historical Preservation Commission will consider two applications for Certificates of Appropriateness. These involve window replacements at the Teen Center and window removals or reductions at the Dickinson Warehouse to accommodate HVAC equipment.
Council to decide on 4 new liquor licenses, zoning changes, and landmark appeals
The Madison Common Council will hold public hearings on four new liquor licenses, including for The Historian Hotel and Madison Public Market, and will vote on several zoning changes and landmark nominations. It will also consider appointing Devine Nzegwu as interim District 1 alder and hear an appeal of a Landmarks…
Historic Preservation Commission to discuss library landmark ceremony and cemetery markers
The Lake Geneva Historic Preservation Commission will meet to discuss and possibly act on several items, including a dedication ceremony for the Lake Geneva Public Library as a Local Historic Landmark, attendance at a state conference, and establishing a program for historic markers in city cemeteries. The agenda also…
Committee to review grants, signs for downtown Beaver Dam
The Downtown Redevelopment Committee will review and possibly recommend approval of several applications, including certificates of appropriateness for new signs and a residential exterior improvement grant. They will also consider a new business recruitment grant for a business at 112 Front St. The meeting includes…
Commission to review designation of historic structure at 67 W Division Street
The Historic Preservation Commission will meet to review a proposal to designate a historic structure, specifically a memorial monument honoring Rev. Newell D. Stanley located at 67 W Division Street. The meeting includes procedural items such as attendance, approval of minutes, and public comments.
Landmarks Commission to weigh dam retention, Windmill repairs, survey grant
The Cedarburg Landmarks Commission will meet to discuss and possibly act on several historic preservation items: recommending long-term retention of all city dams as local landmarks, reviewing repairs to the Windmill Building in Immanuel Cemetery, and considering parameters for a 2027 CLG Grant application for a…
Downtown committee to weigh priorities, wayfinding signs
The Downtown Development Committee is meeting to discuss and recommend priorities from the Village Board's August 5 meeting, review a historic sign sample, and consider wayfinding sign projects for the downtown district. The committee will also handle a resignation and approve prior meeting minutes.
Commission to discuss Project 1838 historic preservation proposal
The Milton Historic Preservation Commission is meeting to discuss and possibly take action on a proposal called Project 1838, which is the main substantive item on the agenda. The commission will also approve the agenda and minutes from the July 22, 2026 meeting, and receive reports from the Milton Historical Society…
Commission to discuss possible landmarking of Memorial Bridge
The Historic Preservation Commission will hold a public hearing and discuss possible action on whether to landmark Memorial Bridge. The commission will also discuss the nomination process for landmarking and improvements to its website page. The meeting includes consideration of minutes from two prior meetings.
Dane County Zoning Committee to hear 19 rezones, 3 conditional use permits
The Zoning & Land Regulation Committee will hold a public hearing on 19 rezone petitions, 3 conditional use permits, and 2 land division waivers, plus discuss a Town of Verona comprehensive plan amendment and a cemetery definition ordinance change. Most rezones involve converting farmland to residential lots, often…
Design review for new principal structure at 1016 Third Street
The Historic Preservation/Design Review Commission will hold a public meeting to discuss and possibly act on a design review request from Jim Lucas of R&L Developers to construct a principal structure at 1016 Third Street. The request is made under Chapter 22.05(2) of city code. The agenda includes only this one…
Landmarks Commission to review Edgewater Hotel addition and four demolition permits
The Madison Landmarks Commission is meeting virtually to decide on an addition and alterations to the Edgewater Hotel in the Mansion Hill Historic District, amendments to two landmark nominations, an advisory recommendation for landmark adjacency, and demolition permits for four buildings. The agenda also includes…
Historic Preservation Commission to review project statuses and conference attendance
The De Pere Historic Preservation Commission is meeting to approve prior minutes, discuss the status of two ongoing 2026 projects (Certified Local Government subgrant facilitation and public education program #2), and consider whether members should attend the 2026 Local History & Historic Preservation Conference in…
Commission reviews Floral Clock repair estimate and development near Swiss Village
The New Glarus Historical Preservation Commission will consider a Certificate of Appropriateness for the Floral Clock, which includes a $7,770 concrete repair estimate from Iconic Foundations LLC. The body will also discuss the development of a parcel adjacent to the Swiss Historical Village. The meeting includes…
Library board to review invoices, building report, donations
The Lake Geneva Public Library Finance, Building & Grounds Committee will meet to review previous months' invoices, discuss building and grounds matters including the installation of a Local Landmark plaque, and review investments and donations, including a donation from the Friends of the Geneva Theater. The meeting…
Madison Food Policy Council to review regional food system and programs
The Madison Food Policy Council is meeting virtually to approve minutes, hear public comment, and receive updates from the chair and staff. The agenda includes regular reports on regional food system planning, food access, farmland preservation, school programs, and community gardens. No specific decisions or…
Landmarks Commission to weigh demolition-by-neglect declaration at 402 Dousman St
The Landmarks Commission will hold a regular meeting with roll call, agenda and minutes approval, and election of officers. The main business items are a possible declaration of demolition by neglect for 402 Dousman Street and a design review for a driveway and patio at 837 S Jackson Street. The meeting also includes…
Historic Commission to continue review of certificate for 121 E Van Buren
The Janesville Historic Commission is meeting to discuss new and old business, including a debrief on the Tallman Arts Festival and continued review of Certificate of Appropriateness 2026-08 for 121 East Van Buren Street. Public comments are accepted in person or via a form due by noon on the meeting day.
Landmarks Commission to discuss preservation design guidelines with CLG coordinator
The Monona Landmarks Commission will hold a hybrid meeting to discuss preservation design guidelines with guest Jason Tish, CLG coordinator, and receive staff updates on the Comprehensive Plan, a Dane Arts grant, and the Charles Lindbergh historical marker. The agenda includes approval of minutes and routine items; no…
Commission to discuss Meridian Plate Monument installation
The Historic Preservation Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting. The main item is continued discussion and possible action on installing the Meridian Plate Monument, which is now in the city's possession. The commission will also approve minutes from the July 13 meeting and discuss agenda items for the next…
Committee to consider amended parking ordinance, cemetery plot buyback, and chapel
The Civic Affairs, Cemetery, Traffic & Lights Committee will discuss and possibly act on an amended ordinance regarding parking on tree lawns, a request to sell a cemetery plot back to the city for $600, a bench for a gravesite, a concrete wall at Forest Home Cemetery, and the future of the Cemetery Chapel. The…
Landmarks Commission to review three certificate of appropriateness applications
The Stoughton Landmarks Commission is meeting to approve minutes and review three certificate of appropriateness (COA) applications for properties on East Main Street. These applications involve changes to historic buildings, including signage and a door replacement. The meeting is hybrid, held in person at City Hall…
Commission to review monument honoring Rev. Newell D. Stanley
The Historic Preservation Commission will review a proposed Certificate of Appropriateness for a memorial monument honoring Rev. Newell D. Stanley, located at 67 W Division Street. The meeting also includes approval of the July 15, 2026 minutes and audience comments on agenda items only.
Commission to hold public hearings on four rezoning requests and zoo expansion
The Planning Heritage and Design Commission will hold public hearings on four rezoning requests and a major amendment to a conditional use permit for the Racine Zoological Gardens. The commission will review and make recommendations on these items, which include designating a local landmark, changing zoning districts…
Landmarks Commission to review sign plan for new bookstore, consider historic survey grant
The Landmarks Commission will review and possibly approve a sign plan for The Reading Nest, a new bookstore proposed at W63 N672 Washington Avenue in the B-3 Central Business District with Historic Preservation Overlay. The commission will also discuss submitting a Letter of Intent for a state historic survey grant.
Committee to consider data center moratorium and farmland preservation plan
The Rock County Planning & Development Committee will review and possibly act on several items, including a proposed moratorium on data center development, adoption of a 10-year farmland preservation plan, and a contract for affordable housing using HOME funds. The agenda also includes code enforcement actions and a…
Board of Appeals to discuss historic designation for Division Street sign
The Fond du Lac Board of Appeals is meeting to elect officers, approve prior minutes, and discuss a ground (monument) sign at 67 W Division Street that is being considered for historic designation. No final decisions are listed on the agenda; the sign discussion is listed under 'Discussion'.
Rezone land east of 523 Ledgewood Drive to single-family residential
The City Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on a request to rezone a portion of unplatted land (FDL-15-18-05-33-747-00) east of 523 Ledgewood Drive from Agricultural (A) to Single-Family Residential (R-1), initiated by Whispering Eagle 3, LLC. The commission will also discuss a ground sign at 67 W Division…
Plan Commission to consider rezoning land east of Ledgewood Drive to single-family residential
The Fond du Lac City Plan Commission is meeting to consider a rezoning request and discuss a potential historic designation. A public hearing will be held on a request by Whispering Eagle 3, LLC to rezone a portion of unplatted land east of 523 Ledgewood Drive from agricultural to single-family residential. The…
Commission to consider Vandenburg Park historical marker, 2027-2036 capital plan
The Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission will discuss and possibly approve a historical marker at Vandenburg Park and a Memorandum of Understanding with Dane County. They will also receive an update on the development of the 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Plan. The meeting includes routine reports from staff and…
Commission to discuss digital records for cemeteries and heritage trails
The Historic Preservation Commission will hold a regular meeting with public comment, approval of minutes, and financial reports. The main discussion is a presentation on creating a digital platform for historical records at Pioneer and Oak Hill Cemeteries, including potential Heritage Trails markers with QR codes…
Commission to review painting at 420 Main St. and discuss repairs at 424 Main St.
The Menomonie Historic Preservation Commission will consider a Certificate of Appropriateness for painting the exterior north wall at 420 Main Street East, and will discuss (without action) potential repairs at 424 Main Street East. The meeting also includes approval of prior minutes and public comments.
Historic commission to review painting at 420 Main St East
The Menomonie Historic Preservation Commission will consider a Certificate of Appropriateness application from MPOC, LLC to paint the exterior north wall at 420 Main Street East, and will discuss potential repairs at 424 Main Street East without taking action. The meeting also includes approval of prior minutes and…
Council to consider sale of 5.9-acre Highway 60 Industrial Park parcel
The Cedarburg Common Council will consider authorizing the sale of a 5.922-acre vacant parcel in the Highway 60 Industrial Park to EGD-CEDARBURG, LLC, along with a related Development Tax Guaranty Agreement. The council will also discuss supporting a grant application for a citywide historic resources survey, review…
Commission to discuss donation procedures and 2027 grant budget
The Historic Preservation Commission will meet to discuss a donation form, a donation acceptance procedure, and the 2027 grant application and budget. No votes are scheduled; the agenda is largely procedural and preparatory.
Committee to weigh utility acquisition report, SS Meteor hull repair
The Public Works Committee will discuss and recommend action on a consultant's report evaluating the city's potential acquisition of Superior Water, Light & Power utilities, including referendum and public meeting schedules. They will also consider waiving bidding requirements to award a $29,900 hull repair contract…
Historic Preservation Commission to review certificates, awards, and scavenger hunt
The Ripon Historic Preservation Commission is meeting to handle routine business, including approving the agenda and minutes, reviewing a financial report, and considering applications for Certificates of Appropriateness for properties at 117 and 120 Watson St. They will also discuss authorizing Chamber Bucks rewards…
Landmarks Commission reviews roof and siding repairs for historic properties
The Waukesha Landmarks Commission will decide on paint and repair grants and review certificates of appropriateness for six properties, including roof replacements and siding repainting in historic districts. The meeting will also discuss mitigation options for a potential demolition of the Water Utility building.
Historic Commission reviews two certificates of appropriateness
The Janesville Historic Commission will review two Certificate of Appropriateness applications for properties at 12 Jackman St and 121 E Van Buren, and hold a debrief discussion on the Tallman Arts Festival. The meeting also includes public comment, approval of the July 21, 2026 minutes, and announcements.