OWENSVILLE —Owensville Planning and Zoning Commission members on Thursday forwarded an application for a Conditional Use Permit to the Owensville Board of Aldermen which would allow for a commercial retail space in an office building at 310 North First Street.

Olivia Gerloff is seeking permission to open a retail space at the address, one of three addressed office spaces in the building. Used of the site is currently governed by the Old Town Commercial zoning. An apartment is located above the office spaces.

A public hearing will be needed before aldermen grant final approval of the request for the Conditional Use Permit. That could come as soon as Monday, March 2, once the  hearing is advertised and notices are sent to residential property owners and businesses surrounding the location at the corner of Harrison Avenue and First Street.

P&Z members asked for clarification on the rezoning request and were informed a Conditional Use Permit stays with the applicant but will not transfer to another renter if the recipient moves out. The permit also does not transfer if a new owner purchases the building, P&Z members were told. The permit was also only for the one rental unit and not the other two.

Juliet Lahmeyer, property manager for the building’s owner, Schmanke Real Estate Holdings, represented Gerloff at the 12-minute long meeting. Gerloff was accompanied by her mother, Becky.

On a motion by Steve Adams and a second from James Calvin Ruth, the four members  present for the P&Z Commission unanimously approved forwarding the request to the city’s elected aldermen for a public hearing and a final vote.

Also voting for the motion were Tom Lahmeyer, chairman, and Patrick Leslie. The meeting held Feb. 5 was rescheduled from Jan. 26 due to the winter storm which dropped sub-freezing weather and snowfall across the region. It was the first P&Z session held since Oct. 28, 2025.