CLEVELAND — A hardship variance request by a downtown Cleveland business owner has led to city leaders deciding they need to look at developing an ordinance that would allow shared business and residential use in the same building.
Earlier this week, the Cleveland City 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 city zoning.
Worrell asked 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 city council voted 3-1 to allow the variance, but gave Worrell six months to make the required safety improvements.
In approving the variance, council members said they would be addressing the shared use issue to be included in city ordinances.
Mayor Shan Ash said they would like to have the new ordinance in place later this year, after developing a plan and accepting citizen input.
