City approves downtown building for residence

The Fort Scott City Commission on Tuesday approved a measure that will allow a local couple to live on the first floor of a building in the downtown business district.

Commissioners heard from city officials and various citizens on both sides of the issue as they considered a conditional use permit that would allow residential living on the first floor of a commercial building. Currently in the downtown district, residential living is only allowed on the second floor of a building.

Local resident Jerry Witt, who owns the building, plans to change the building from a business setting to a residential setting as he and his wife, Judy, plan to live there. The building only has one floor and Witt has designed a plan for the facade.

“This is a critical decision for the downtown,” City Manager Dave Martin told the commission prior to the discussion. “You guys are on the hot seat and must make the decision.”

Martin told commissioners that up for discussion was “one piece of property,” and whether or not they should allow housing on the first floor.

“You’re not opening it up and you’re not changing the ordinance,” he said. “One of our strong suits as a city is we look at every situation.”

Martin said commissioners have three options; to vote yes or no on the permit, or to table the matter for two weeks if they are “not ready to make a decision.”

The Fort Scott Planning Commission met July 12 on the matter and determined they want to review each situation and not change the current zoning ordinance. Jerry Witt appeared before that board to request a conditional use permit that will allow residential living on the first floor of the building. The Design Review Board met July 26 and recommended Witt’s designs be approved and sent to the city commission for consideration.

Witt proposes to convert the current building front from the glass and metal facade to a “more fitting look, keeping close to the original design of the building.” Witt said at the July 12 planning commission meeting he worked with Rick Zingre, architect, on the building design.

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