Plan Commission Hears Request to Rezone North Harrison Home for Counseling Office

The Davenport City Plan & Zoning Commission heard public testimony Thursday on Case 26-05, a request from Rooted Counseling Center PLLC to rezone 2721 North Harrison Street from R4C (single- and two-family residential) to CT (commercial transitional) to allow a small counseling office and site signage. The commission did not vote; staff said it will issue a formal recommendation at the June 16 meeting and the commission will vote that night.

Matt, a city staff member, summarized the proposal and site context, saying the rezoning would allow a “low intensity limited office or some sort of service” that would transition from the surrounding residential district. He told the commission that “public notices were sent to property owners within 200 feet of the request” and that the notice also ran in the Quad City Times. A neighborhood meeting at the subject property drew five neighbors, who asked about hours of operation, parking and traffic.

Petitioner Jim Estes, 251 Iowa Street in Davenport, who identified himself in the hearing as a psychologist with 30 years’ experience and a current employee of the Illinois Department of Corrections, described how the house would be converted. “We’re tearing all that out and we’re going to put asphalt … our plan is to have a 40x20 foot parking … which should create four spaces,” Estes said, adding that the existing front rooms would be refitted as two offices, a new door would replace a window, and an accessible platform and ramp would lead to the entry. He said the applicants would make the structure ADA compliant.

Commissioners questioned the petitioner and staff about parking placement and surfacing, with Matt noting a required 15-foot buffer between parking and the southern neighbor and confirming the intent to provide paved parking rather than gravel. Commissioners also pressed about hours; Estes said the planned schedule was roughly 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and that evening appointments were not anticipated. On signage, Estes said the applicants are considering a freestanding sign in front and a wall-mounted sign on the garage, and that they had consulted Matt about the city’s sign ordinance.

Neighbors’ concerns raised at the earlier neighborhood meeting and to staff centered on parking, traffic and hours; staff did not report any written objections to the record at the hearing. The record shows the applicant has already purchased the house, which Estes said has been vacant for about a year.

Next steps: staff will return a formal recommendation to the Plan & Zoning Commission on June 16; the commission is scheduled to consider and vote on the rezoning that night.