Commission approves temporary household living at 1414 North Chadbourne to house displaced residents

The Planning Commission approved a conditional-use request to allow household living at 1414 North Chadbourne so a religious institution can temporarily house displaced people while the institution’s primary facility undergoes renovation.

Planner Arden presented the request and told commissioners the applicants intend to use two existing lots and one existing building to house two women displaced by flooding. Staff recommended approval subject to three conditions: limitation to the two specified lots and existing building, a maximum of two residential units (to mirror surrounding two-family residential density), and that the conditional use not be valid until the applicants secure a change of occupancy within six months to bring the building into residential code compliance. Arden said staff viewed household living as a compatible buffer between commercial uses on Chadbourne and the adjacent residential area.

Commissioners asked questions about building-code upgrades needed for residential occupancy (egress windows and fire-code compliance) and whether a time limit should be added; the applicants indicated they seek a temporary six-month change of occupancy that will revert to commercial when the renovation is finished. The commission approved the conditional use unanimously.

Quote: "Staff sees that as a good use of a buffer between the commercial uses to the west and the residential to the east," planner Arden said while recommending approval.

Next steps: The applicant must obtain the change of occupancy and demonstrate compliance with residential building codes; staff said failure to meet conditions could nullify the conditional use.