Staff proposes new rules to let neighborhood businesses in residential zones adapt, with public hearings for larger changes

City community-development staff presented detailed options to the Englewood Historic Preservation Commission for loosening restrictions on long‑standing commercial uses located in residential zoning districts, emphasizing smaller, by‑right changes with public hearings required for larger expansions.

Brian Isom, community development staff, told the commission that nonconforming uses are businesses that were legal when established but became disallowed by later rezoning. "In short, it's a use that was at one point legal that through some form of zoning action is now considered illegal," Isom said. He said the city identified a cluster of such sites concentrated in southern Englewood, and that the status can discourage investment because owners expect commercial market value even though reuse as housing or institutional uses would be required if a site becomes vacant for six months.

Isom said staff began with 14 registered nonconforming uses; one became conforming after a recent planned‑unit development rezoning that took effect Sept. 5, and another owner intends to convert to residential, leaving 12 sites under consideration. Examples he cited included Quincy Barbershop and the business operating under the name God Save the Cream, which he said currently holds a grocery‑store nonconforming…