By PETER HUSSMANN
Without discussion, the Newton City Council agreed to insert language in the zoning code to allow for the operation of a tea room commercial enterprise as a conditional use within multi-family residentially zoned districts.
Nancy Egnozzi and Robert Sawyer, the California-owners of the Hunter Mansion at 223 W. 4th St. S., are proposing to turn the historic Newton residence into a commercial "tea room" operation. The pair dropped efforts to get the entire block rezoned commercial after it twice met with reluctance from the planning commission and instead worked with city staff to develop new language in the zoning code that would allow for such an operation in R-3 residential districts as a conditional use.
The Newton Zoning Board of Adjustment will be required to review the operation plans of the proposed tea room endeavor before issuing a conditional use permit.
Earlier this month, the planning commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of the new code language. The Newton council waived second and third readings of the ordinance and adopted the measure.
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