Board recommends land-use, zoning change for Habitat office while attaching conditions to limit future uses

The Planning & Zoning Board voted to recommend a future land-use map amendment (residential low density to residential medium density) and a rezoning (RS-2 to RG-1) for 18–20 Spring Street and approved a use-by-exception allowing Habitat for Humanity to occupy the existing church building as a nonprofit office.

Habitat representatives said the organization intends minimal exterior changes and expects modest daily foot traffic — largely staff, volunteers and occasional applicants — comparable to its current operations. Construction manager Christopher Deverell said the organization usually sees about one non-staff visitor per weekday and that most intake and communications happen online.

Several board members said they were sympathetic but expressed worry about creating a permanent zoning island that later owners could exploit. To address those concerns, the board tied the use-by-exception to Habitat specifically and requested that any land-use/zoning action recommended to the City Commission include language that limits subsequent uses or requires reversion if Habitat vacates. Applicant counsel agreed to the condition; the board voted to recommend the map amendment and rezoning to the commission with the suggested qualifier.

A member of the public asked the board to include explicit, enforceable limits; the board and applicant said they would work with staff and counsel to draft language for the City Commission packet that limits the permitted uses to nonprofit office activities of the scale described in the application or that otherwise requires a future rezoning if a different use is proposed.

The item will proceed to the City Commission with the Planning & Zoning Board's recommendation and the proposed condition about limited use while Habitat occupies the property.