Council hears public hearing on zoning change to allow substitution of nonconforming uses; developer describes plan for 312 Rose Avenue

The Washington Court House City Council held a public hearing April 9 on a proposed amendment to the city zoning code that would give the Board of Zoning Appeals broader authority to allow substitution of nonconforming uses in residential districts.

The change under consideration would allow a nonconforming building or structure to be changed to another nonconforming use of the same or a more restricted classification “provided no structural alterations except those required by law or ordinance are made, and no exterior additions are made,” and provided the property complies with other zoning requirements, according to language cited at the hearing. The planning commission recommended the language to council.

The matter drew most of the night’s public attention after Brian Miller, who identified himself as the owner of 312 Rose Avenue, described plans to convert a large, former church on that parcel into multiple small rental rooms for short‑ to medium‑term leases. “It is a church building, but it is very, very big. It has a lot of rooms,” Miller said, adding he would install kitchens and bathrooms and…