By DAVE SCHULTZ
Four rezoning requests — three within the Bluffton city limits and another that will go to the Wells County Commissioners — will be considered by the Wells County Area Plan Commission Thursday evening, Nov. 3.
One of the three rezoning requests in Bluffton deals with changing the zoning classification from residential to business for one of the city’s landmark structures on South Main Street. The other two requests deal with changing the residential density requests for property parcels on Lancaster and Bond streets to add to the city’s available housing stock.
The brick structure at 505 S. Main St. — at the intersection of South Main Street and Central Avenue — has been vacant for several years but has recently changed ownership. The new owner is BAF Investments LLC, which apparently wants to make it available for meetings and events.
“Planning to do a small meeting place on (the) main floor,” the petition says, adding the site will “possibly (be) open to public for rented events, etc.”
The rezoning request would change it from R-2 (medium-density housing) to B-1 (light-use business).
The rezoning requests at 1114 Lancaster St. and 232 N. Bond St. deal with a switch from R-1 (low-density residential) to R-3 (higher-density residential). The properties are owned by Leander Schwartz Properties LLC, The rezoning request is being sought to increase the amount of housing available within the community, according to the petition.
The rezoning request that will go to the Wells County Commissioners concerns property at 4496 E. Elm Grove Road, at the intersection of Elm Grove Road and Wells County Road 450E.
The owners, Timothy and Melissa Lambert wish to have the zoning changed from its current S-1 (suburban residential) to A-R (agricultural residential). The purpose of the request, the petition says, is to provide a dog boarding facility.
The APC members do not make a final decision on the merits of the rezoning requests but they can make a recommendation to approve or disapprove the requests to the governing bodies. They could also make no recommendation at all.
During the meeting, the APC members will also review matters relating to tax increment financing districts in Ossian. The commission will also review the Zanesville comprehensive plan.
The APC will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the lower level of the Wells Carnegie Government Center, 223 W. Washington St.
daves@news-banner.com
