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SARB discusses First Floor Ordinance effect on 156 E. Main, considers temporary retail provision
Summary
Board members discussed that a property owner is reluctant to lease vacant space at 156 E. Main to a retailer because the First Floor Ordinance's grandfathered office exemption could be lost; members brainstormed allowing temporary retail with a two-year reversion clause but raised monitoring concerns.
At the Jan. 8 meeting the Shopping Area Redevelopment Board spent time on the First Floor Ordinance and a vacant main-floor space at 156 E. Main.
Marketing Director deRoo described a scenario in which the property's owner has kept the ground floor as office space because the First Floor Ordinance grandfathered that use. The owner has been hesitant to lease to a retail tenant out of concern that the office exemption would be forfeited if the space becomes retail.
Board members discussed a possible amendment or provision that would allow an office space to convert to retail or personal service on a trial basis but revert to office if the retail tenant remains for less than two years. Members flagged practical questions about how the city would monitor occupancy and enforce any reversion provision, and expressed concern about the administrative burden and clarity of any monitoring process.
No ordinance change or formal vote was recorded on Jan. 8. The discussion was exploratory and framed as a potential approach to encourage retail occupancy while protecting longstanding office exemptions.
