New uses for old buildings earn BZA approval

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Greencastle will soon be able to scratch two more structures off its vacant commercial building inventory as what's old can indeed become new again.

That's possible because two new business ventures will repurpose a pair of existing buildings within the city's general business district following recent approval of the Greencastle Board of Zoning Appeals.

Old eye doctor's office at Indianapolis Road and Longcastle Drive has been approved by the BZA for use as Bousley Funeral Home.

In action at its October meeting, the BZA approved new uses for both the former ophthalmology office of Drs. Ruth Goodell and David Zauel at 1111 Indianapolis Rd., and the prior M & R Auto Parts storefront, most recently a consignment shop, at 301-303 N. Jackson St.

Special exception use variances were approved by the BZA for:

-- Jason Bousley of Bousley-Hayes Funeral Home, Coatesville, to turn the old eye doctor's office at the corner of Indianapolis Road and Longcastle Drive into a funeral home.

-- Dustin Burton of Burton Construction, Mooresville, to convert the old auto parts store/consignment shop into indoor self-storage units at the site along the east side of Jackson Street, two blocks north of the square.

Both requests were approved unanimously by the BZA.

However, two conditions accompany the Bousley approval. First, the petitioner will need to add lighting in the parking lot and operate it only during business hours.

City Planner Scott Zimmerman noted that the lighting is necessary for safety purposes and is consistent with city code.

Meanwhile, the BZA also ruled that any memorial stone displays be confined to an area up against the west side of the building (facing Longcastle Drive) and not in the front yard of the facility.

Bousley also mentioned that the shrub barrier between the rear of property and the condominiums residences north of it would be maintained.

Former M&R Auto Parts store, most recently a consignment shop, has been approved by the BZA for indoor self-storage and office space for Dustin Burton of Burton Construction, Mooresville.

One neighbor, Mary Gardner of Asbury Knoll, addressed the BZA on the matter, questioning what sort of traffic issues might be created for condo residents who come and go via Longcastle Drive.

Traffic, it was noted, is not likely to be an more of concern than it already is (primarily a left-run issue out of Longcastle) with the exception of funeral times.

The Bousley site will include offices and funeral visitation areas. No embalming or other body preparation will be done on site. Those elements are already set up at the company's Coatesville location and would be costly to establish at a new facility, it was noted.

Meanwhile, Burton will be gutting the former M&R/consignment shop at Jackson and Liberty streets to create a series of spaces Zimmerman characterized as "almost like little practice rooms" off a separate hallway.

The storage spaces offered would be 9 x 14, 10 x 12 and the largest, 14 x 14, Zimmerman said.

The site is also expected to be used as an office for Burton's construction company.

Wayne Lewis chairs the Greencastle BZA with Andrew Ranck, Brian Cox, Margaret Kenton and Doug Wokoun (a new addition representing the County Plan Commission) as voting members.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: