2/15/17
(Cleveland)- A hardship variance request by a downtown Cleveland business owner has led to the City of Cleveland deciding they need to look at developing an ordinance that would allow shared business and residential use in the same building. Monday night the council addressed a request from business owner Lori Worrell, of Sweet Things, on the square to allow for a variance that would allow her to use the upper level of the building as a residence.
Currently shared residential use is not addressed in the city zoning.
Worrell ask the council to allow for a variance so she could use the living area to help care for her mother, while she still operates the business.
The city planning and zoning board first heard the request and agreed to the variance if certain fire department safety issues were addressed. After about an hour of discussion the council voted 3-1 to allow the variance, but give Worrell six month to complete the required safety issues.
Also in approving the variance the council said they would be addressing the shared use issue to be included in the city ordinances.
Mayor Shan Ash said they would like to have the new ordinance in place later this year, that’s after developing a plan and accepting citizen input.
