2003-35 GRANTING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT - 239-247 WEST PRAIRIE AVENUE

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Excerpts from Plan Commission Minutes of June 5, 2003 Cal. No. 03-25 Petition of CATHOLIC CHARITIES for a Conditional Use Permit - Historic Neighborhood Use for the premises at 239-247 WEST PRAIRIE AVENUE in order to operate a clothing retail shop and a food pantry. Ms. Kathy Miller, Senior Planner,was sworn in by Mrs.Henderson. Ms. Miller presented the recommendation of staff: Catholic Charities acquired the building at 239 West Prairie Avenue, adjacent to their existing building, in order to expand their facilities. Catholic Charities originally planned to use both buildings as of�ce space. In November of 2002, a variance was granted reducing the required parking space for the planned office use. Since that time, social services program changes have occurred reducing the amount of office space required. The organization has changed their planned use for the building to now include community service programs, a conference room and ; office expansion. Additional space for parking is now available to Catholic Charities adjacent to the site to the east. The Decatur Catholic Charities community service program,which includes the clothing store/food pantry, currently operates at 401 North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. This is a rented facility that Catholic Charities believes is inadequate for their needs. The clothing store is normally open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday and 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday. The food pantry is open for three (3)hours during the afternoon five (5) days a week. The petitioner originally requested that the property be rezoned to B-1 Neighborhood Shopping District. The Plan Commission reviewed the petition on Apri13, 2003 with a recommendation to approve the request with the Chairman stating his preference for a conditional use permit. The City Council reviewed the request on May 5; after some discussion the item was tabled until the petitioner could come back with a conditional use permit. The petitioner is now requesting to rezone the O-1 Office District property to Historic Neighborhood Conditional Use in order to operate the used clothing retail facility and the food bank. The petitioner plans to patch the roo� repair and paint the windows, paint the doors and replace the side entrance double doors with a single door and sidelight for accessibility. The replacement door and sidelight is proposed to be wood with true divided lights to match the style of the existing door. The exterior of the building will remain unchanged. The subject property is located between the Downtown Business Distrid and the locally designated West End Historic District,within the boundaries of the Decatur National Register Historic District. Most of the properties in this area are zoned O-1 Office District; the area serves as a buffer between the Downtown Business District and the Residential District to the west. Several residential properties are located within the block as well as office uses. Properties on the east side of North Church Street are zoned B-4 Central Business District and on the west side of the street properties are zoned B-2 Commercial District. Currently, there are few if any commercial/retail uses on North Church Street. The properties on the north side of West Main Street behind Catholic Charities are zoned O-1, however, most properties are