Ground floor apartment plan delays indoor baseball center on S. Monroe
COLDWATER — The former Shoppers Guide building at 57/59 S. Monroe will become an indoor baseball and softball training facility after the Coldwater Planning Commission approved a special use permit Monday night.
But Joseph Wright must wait for a change in city ordinances before he can build an apartment in the building.
Current ordinances for the Central Business District do not allow first-floor apartments.
Wright told commissioners that plans for 59 S. Monroe "Is to convert that to residential property, creating a downtown condo, which I would actually occupy next to my business."
Wright would turf the rear former car dealership garage with a lounge and offices in 57 S. Monroe.
The southwest corner of the building would be the condo.
Wright noted there are residents further south on Monroe and around the corner on Washington.
City Manager Keith Baker, filling in for Community Service Director Jake VanBoxel, said C-2 zoning discusses residences. "It explicitly states that they not be on the first floor or ground floor or basement or be below or on the same floor of a commercial use."
Commissioner Jessika Cole said, "I advocate we need to give the owners of these properties flexibility. Otherwise, they sit idle and then fall into disrepair. Then they really don't get occupied."
The city already gave The Lofts off N. Hanchett apartments on the ground floor. An old house across from the Post Office was commercial, but the city allowed it to become a residence again.
Most commissioners agreed that U.S. 12 should not have first-floor living units.
Commissioners suggested allowing first-floor residential by special use permit so they can review each proposed project in detail.
Cole said, "We also have to have the guts to be able to say to somebody 'I don't think this makes sense.' That can be hard, when you've got an applicant standing here and they really want to do something."
The commissioner also discussed whether first-floor apartments would be only for owner-occupied or rental.
Baker said he and VanBoxel will come back with ordinance language for the June 3 meeting. Any change would then go to the city council for final approval.
The commission also recommended a rezoning for the city council.
Bill Martinson of Phillip Steel Corporation asked to rezone 200 South Clay from D-2 heavy industrial to C-3 highway commercial.
Subscribe Follow this issue. Subscribe to the Daily Reporter.
The approximately 1.25 acres north of the railroad tracks is vacant.
Baker said the C-3 is more in line with neighboring use.
---Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Ordinance changes needed for apartment in Monroe Street baseball facility
