Commission approves conditional‑use permit to convert 309 High Avenue office to single‑family use

The Oshkosh City Planning Commission approved a conditional‑use permit to allow the adaptive reuse of 309 High Avenue, converting an existing office building back to single‑family residential use.

Staff explained the parcel is about 7,200 square feet with an existing 1.5‑story, approximately 3,843‑square‑foot office building. The staff report said the proposed conversion would not change the building footprint or exterior appearance and that the property has sufficient parking to meet the city’s residential parking standard of two spaces for a single‑family dwelling. Staff recommended approval with the findings listed in the staff report and noted the building must meet the Uniform Dwelling Codes for new one‑ and two‑family dwellings during the conversion.

Owner/applicant Richard Crystal told the commission he and his wife bought the property when a local attorney retired and that the home had previously been used as a law office and, before that, by Catholic Social Services. “We have met … with Nicole Scribe when I came up to start this procedure. She has done an insight inspection and has sent me an email of things that the city would require in order to make it a home. We have complied with some and are just waiting for the approval so that we can complete it,” Crystal said. He also said his son, daughter‑in‑law and granddaughter have lived in the house for three years.

A commissioner asked whether single‑family is a permitted use in the urban mixed‑use district; staff clarified that single‑family residential is not a by‑right permitted use in the urban mixed‑use district, which is why a CUP is required. After public comment closed and the commission moved to adopt the staff findings and recommendations, the motion was seconded and passed on an 8–0 roll call vote.

Staff will require the building to comply with applicable uniform dwelling codes before final occupancy as a single‑family dwelling.