WILLMAR -- The Willmar Planning Commission has approved a request to allow a house in the industrial park to be used for an office.
The commission voted Wednesday night to allow the house at 2004 Trott Ave. S.W. to be used for an office. The request was made by Steve Kruger of Clara City and Bill Leenstra of Willmar. They said two to three people would work in the office and there would be no signs. No exterior changes would be necessary.
The house, which was recently sold, had been used as a residence for many years and is considered a residential pre-existing legal non-conforming use. City planning staff acknowledged that an office use is not permitted in the limited industry district.
However, the zoning ordinance states that a non-conforming use may change to a more restricted non-conforming use, provided no structural changes are made to the structure involved.
Planning staff recommended an office use would be a good fit for the property because the use is more restrictive and because the lot and house are of substandard size for industrial use. Four other houses are also located in the vicinity.
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Planning staff recommended using the house as an office as a solution until perhaps some of the smaller lots are bought for industrial use. "In order to develop it, you would have to buy it and other properties,'' she said.
In other business, the commission approved a request from David Birchard of Willmar on behalf of James House of Willmar to move a duplex house onto a lot at 3108 First Ave. N.W. in the Vos Park Addition.
The house is being removed from Third Street Southwest to make room for the Walt's Car Wash project, according to city planning staff.
Another house on Third Street is waiting to be moved to a vacant lot at the corner of Willmar Avenue and Sixth Street Southwest, Sauer said.
