Stoughton City Council green lights creation of historic downtown district 

On Tuesday, May 9, the Stoughton City Council approved the establishment of an “Historic Downtown Local District” to sanction improvements for downtown businesses, according to the Stoughton Courier Hub. 

The measure was unanimously approved by the city’s Landmarks Commission in March. The creation of the new district will shift some of the city Plan Commission’s decision-making authority to the Landmarks Commission. 

While the intention of the measure is to protect and enhance elements of Stoughton’s downtown area that reflect the city’s cultural, economic, social, political, and architectural history, some concerns persist over the power shift to the Landmarks Commission and anticipated effects on landowners and property owners in the district.