Anderson Street reprieve is up

LISA HOBBS – News Editor

On Sept. 1, the McMinnville Board of Zoning Appeals approved a 30-day stay request from the owner of house located at 201 Anderson Street. The structure was slated for demolition by the city.

Members of the board met today, Oct. 6, not to consider demolition. They convened to consider a zoning change request from R-1 (low density residential) to C-2 (general commercial) for that property. Before consideration, the city’s Community Development Director Sean Garrett requested a stay of his own.

“I’d like to table this for two weeks. I’ve discussed this with the property owners, and I think this property would be better suited as an R-5.”

R5 is a transitional area allowing a mixture of residential and commercial uses that are located, designed, and screened to allow an area of compatible uses existing and functioning in harmony and without conflict. It is the intent of the R-5 District to allow new and expanded commercial uses within the district while at the same time providing a high level of protection to the existing residential structures in the area.

While property owner Betty Perry did not speak as to what she plans on doing with the property, if the property is rezoned to R-5, permitted uses are:

1)      Single-family detached and two-family attached dwellings; excluding mobile homes;

2)      Accessory apartments in single-family detached dwellings when in conformance with the provisions of Section 14-501.3A of the official zoning code;

3)      Limited retail business uses such as dress shops, florists, gift shops, stationery stores, antique shops, arts and craft supplies, and beauty and barber shops;

4)      Bed and breakfast establishments and tea rooms;

5)      Profession offices for doctors, dentists, lawyers, architects, accountants, engineers, insurance agents, real estate agents, surveyors and the like;

6)      Television, radio, and satellite dish antennas when in conformance with the provisions of Section 14-604.10 of the official zoning code;

7)      Temporary structures, subject to the provisions of Section 14-608 of the official zoning code.

There are permitted uses on appeal, also called special exceptions. Those include daycares, public utilities, storage or overnight parking of commercial or industrial vehicles, outdoor storage, etc.

The property came under scrutiny after remaining vacant for years and a permit was approved by the city for its demolition.

“The property has not had water for 13 years; It has not had electricity for 14 years, which makes the house unfit,” said Garrett, during September’s meeting. “Then, on top of that, we’ve had several issues with grass, which has not been maintained. We currently have four liens on the property.”

Owed to the city at that time was $3,275.

Perry objected to demolition and requested at least 30 days to determine what she wanted to do with the property.

“We do plan on doing something with this property,” she stated last month. “We are just trying to decide what that is at this point. I’m asking for time right now, if we can get an extension to give us time to determine what we want to do, because this was just thrown at us.”

BZA members approved her request, allowing her 30 days to make a decision.

Likewise, members approved Garrett’s request to table the measure for two weeks with the expectation that the property owner will agree to change her request to R-5 and resubmit.