New future for old church

LISA HOBBS – News Editor

The owner of 115 Peers Street has requested that the city of McMinnville consider rezoning to expand its potential uses.

Owner Donald Hillis stated that he purchased the property for investment and resale. He’d like the zoning designation changed from R-1 to R-5.

“It’s a great property, and I’m excited to see who the next owner will be,” he stated.

According to city records, the east side of Peers Street is zoned C-2 (general commercial), with a mix of uses. The west side of N. Chancery is zoned commercial. In addition to this, a portion of the west side of Peers Street, south of Clark Blvd, is zoned R-2 (medium density residential), with one lot zoned R-5 (residential-commercial).

R-5 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.

Permitted uses in the R-5 District:

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 request must go before the McMinnville Regional Planning Commission for its consideration. That commission is advisory only. The final decision on changing the property’s zoning designation will be that of McMinnville Board of Mayor and Aldermen.