The Harvey County Board of Commissioners on July 29 approved Conditional Use Permit CUP25‑06 and the accompanying resolution to allow Marilyn Rosa to convert a garage at 912 South Ridge Road into a private mental‑health counseling office, subject to conditions the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission recommended.

Planning staff told the board the conversion meets zoning criteria but raised floodplain and fire‑safety requirements. Karen Rothy of Harvey County Planning and Zoning said the garage is in the floodplain, and the project must meet floodplain elevation rules before construction; she added the Newton Fire District asked that fire codes be met. “The only call I had on this was from the fire department asking that we make sure that it meets fire codes,” Rothy said.

The planning commission approved the CUP with six conditions: compliance with floodplain requirements including required elevation certificates and any necessary no‑rise certifications; all parking confined to the property (no parking on the road); the office must close if a flood warning is issued to avoid driving on flooded roadways; property must comply with all state and local regulations; water used by the office must be tested annually for bacteria and nitrates or, if not tested, faucets must be marked non‑potable and bottled water supplied; and the office may not be expanded to add additional counselors or offices without a new conditional use permit.

Commissioners moved and seconded approval of the CUP and the resolution authorizing it; the motion passed by voice vote. The county clerk will retain the conditions with the permit record, and the applicant or her builder must provide required floodplain and fire‑safety documentation before construction begins.

The conditions are intended to reduce public‑safety and environmental risks associated with placing a counseling office in a structures-in‑floodplain location and to ensure that short‑term public access (clients) occurs with appropriate parking and water‑safety safeguards.