A one-time church in Palmerston may soon find new life as a café and a home.
Minto council held a public meeting July 7 to consider changing the zoning of 155 James Street to allow its use as a café. Currently, the property is zoned institutional, and the new zoning would allow its use as a café and accessory dwelling.
The applicants, Patrick Bause and Paula Bausova, said the current institutional zoning allows only very limited uses. They plan to run a café in the front and use the rest of the space as a residence.
The report by planner Charlie Toman noted the property is currently vacant, and while originally constructed as a church, it was most recently used as a youth centre.
The property is located within Palmerston’s central business district as designated under the Wellington County official plan.
Senior Mark Van Patter noted the 1,581 square foot building is currently vacant.
He said the key point of the county policies affecting this is the residence must be either above or behind the commercial establishment.
He said that while there is currently no on site parking or driveway, there is room for that. He has not see a detailed floor plan.
Chief Building Official Terry Kuipers noted that accessory residence and buffering requirements would be addressed with the building permit application.
Norm Fisk, Director of Public Services, added that any upgrades for water or sewer services would be at the applicant’s cost. He added that parking may also need to be addressed.
Council had no issues with the application.
Bausova said they have spoken to a number of people in Palmerston who stopped in while they were working.
“We’ve yet to meet anyone who has an objection to it. They all seem to think it is needed and are looking forward to it being open.”
