The owner of the former Fox Point building at 1905 E. 14th St. is seeking to have the property rezoned to allow for more non-industrial uses. The requested zoning change is from Industrial to Thoroughfare Commercial.
Under the city’s zoning ordinance, a thoroughfare commercial designation allows for a wide variety of retail, amusement, motel and light industrial uses. In his application for a zoning amendment, John Bocke of Fox Point Partners LLP noted that the property may be out of place for its current zoning designation. The Fox Point property is surrounded by churches to the south and west, and Merrill High School to the east. “It may be best suited for retailing, multi-use warehousing facility that could be broken down for smaller businesses to make use of the facilty, versus one large company,” Bocke stated.
Along with the rezoning request, Fox Point Partners is seeking a conditional use permit to rent 1,500 square feet of the 55,000-square-foot facility to a church organization. Churches are allowed as a conditional use in a Thoroughfare Commercial district. Bocke noted that no construction or changes to the building would be necessary to accommodate the church.
Public hearings on both requests will be held before the Merrill City Plan Commission on Tuesday, May 6, at 6 p.m. at Merrill City Hall. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard by the commission.