Codes being altered to accommodate flea market
McMinnville?s Board of Zoning Appeals has paved the way for Gordon McGee Sr., and his family to use the old Powermatic building as a flea market and expo center.
McGee family members announced several months ago they would be renovating the building in an attempt to bring new industry into the area. Until that time, plans are to use the building as a flea market on weekends.
However, current city code doesn?t allow the building to be used for that purpose. Asking for a special exception didn?t provide fruitful either as zoning chairman David Marttala pointed out the current code only allows flea markets, with a special exception for permanent use, under a C-3 district and this is an I-2 district.
Current codes would require the building to drop down in codes to become a flea market. In that case, it could no longer be used for industry if one were to show interest. Ironically, in its current district, the building could be used as a slaughterhouse or junk yard.
The industrial code seems to be oddly written when compared to other city codes. There are certain things allowed in C-1 (commercial). When it comes to C-2, anything allowed in C-1 is allowed in C-2, plus a few more things. C-3 allows anything that is allowed in C-1 and C-2. When it comes to industrial districts, this pattern changes.
?I don?t know if that?s an oversight,? said Planning and Zoning director Jim Brock. ?What you can do in R-1 and R-2 (residential) you can do in R-3.?
With the code for industrial being so poorly written, and the McGees not wanting a slaughterhouse, junk yard or a change in the building?s code, a change in how the code for industrial districts is written will have to be made before the McGees will be allowed to open the expo center.
Mayor Royce Davenport, who sat in on the meeting, suggested it would only take two readings for a change in how the industrial code is written. The change would write industrial codes the same as the codes in residential and commercial.
The commission moved to allow the McGees their request for a special exception if the board approves the changes in the codes.
Although the McGees didn?t get their special exception immediately, two others did:
? A special exception was given to Harold Martin for him to use 1.62 acres at the end of Potter Lane to build five multi-family dwellings. There will be five two-story apartment buildings with four apartments in each building. The request was made by Ray Martin.
? A special exception was given to Paul Freeman which would allow used automobiles to be sold at 1116 Sparta Street, a property owned by him. The request was made by Alon Hutchins, the owner of Next Generation Auto Repair located on the Sparta Street property. He will be allowed to sell used autos with his existing auto repair business.