Hobart City Council nixes downtown apartment plan

A proposal to convert two retail spaces into a first-floor apartment in the downtown area was narrowly defeated by the Hobart City Council.

The Board of Zoning Appeals had earlier given an unfavorable recommendation to the request made by Rich Pluta, owner of the property at 222 Center St., saying it would make a significant change to the city’s master plan.

The property is the nonhistorical addition to the historic Guyer building, which was demolished after catching fire last winter.

Councilman Dave Vinzant, D-4th, disagreed with the BZA’s findings, saying this particular building is unique, and he presented a revised resolution that would allow the zone change.

Vinzant and Councilmen John Huddlestun, D-2nd, and P. Lino Maggio, D-3rd, voted in favor of the rezoning.

“An extra apartment creates more foot traffic downtown,” Maggio said.

Huddlestun said he didn’t think having a one-unit apartment there would change the direction of downtown. He said the owner must have a reason for switching from commercial, which would demand a higher rent, to residential.

Other council members sided with the BZA and City Planner Sergio Mendoza, who said he didn’t think the rezone would be in the best interest of the neighborhood or the community in the long run.

“If the council should move forward on this, it would move the downtown in a direction I wouldn’t want to see it go in in future years,” Mendoza said.

The council also recognized Terry Butler, president of the School City of Hobart Board of Trustees and a 19-year member of the board. Butler received the Outstanding Boardmanship Award from the state.

“You can’t find a better person who’s there for the kids. He practices what he preaches,” said fellow school board member Mike Rogers.