COLUMBUS – Columbus Town Council approved a rezoning of a residential house to commercial zoning to allow for duplex apartments at 156 S. Peak St.

Council met April 27 and held a public hearing prior to the rezoning approval. While no one in the public spoke regarding the rezoning, property owner Lynne Koester spoke to explain her plan.

Koester said she currently lives at 136 Peak Street, which is right next door to the Columbus Fire Department. She purchased it in 2005 and it was zoned commercial, although she has not used that property as commercial. She said she wants to renovate 156 Peak Street and turn it into duplex apartments. She said there is a driveway on the side where the back porch is and renovation will include no outdoor structures being built. The renovations will include general repairs that need to be done, landscaping and possibly a porch. The duplex will be an upstairs and downstairs apartment.

Columbus Town Manager Tim Barth said the rezoning request is from R-2 residential to Central Business District (CBD).

“The current limits of the CBD go out Peak Street to one lot beyond the fire department,” Barth said. “So this lot is contiguous to that lot. 156 South Peak Street is the former Louise Durham residence and is now owned by her heirs.”

Koester is currently under contract to purchase 156 S. Peak St.

Barth said the only way for Koester to rent the house out as separate apartments is to have the property rezoned to CBD.

“Also, it would make her property consistent in regard to zoning,” Barth added. “As it stands now her property at 136 is zoned CBD and 156 is zoned R-2.”

The planning board also recently recommended the rezoning. Town council approved the rezoning unanimously.