Planning commission approves rezoning of office at Tennyson Methodist Church campus

The Mount Pleasant Planning & Zoning Commission on July 14 approved a rezoning request to change the zoning for an office building at 307 East 5th Street — part of the Tennyson Methodist Church campus — from Single Family 2 to Neighborhood Services.

The agenda item was filed by Jerry Harmon on behalf of the Tennyson Methodist Church. Planning staff recommended approval, describing the rezoning as a "cleanup" to make the office lot consistent with the church campus and noting that the office has operated as a nonprofit use with limited neighborhood impact. "City staff is recommending approval of this rezoning, since the current land use is a church, and the former building, which has been used for quite a while with no impact on the neighborhood," the planning director said.

Staff said the office had been transferred to a separate nonprofit owner at some point and because Single Family 2 zoning does not allow offices by right the property needs Neighborhood Services zoning to be compliant. The staff presentation noted that 24 nearby property owners were notified and that two responses were marked in favor of the request.

A public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers recorded, and the commission moved, seconded and approved the rezoning with recorded "Aye" votes. No conditions or amendments to the rezoning were recorded in the meeting transcript.

The commission's approval allows the office lot to remain in use consistent with its history; staff indicated no substantial future development of the church campus is planned as part of this item.