Planning Commission recommends permit to Schumacher for condos

Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

At its Wednesday, Dec. 21 meeting, the New Prague Planning and Zoning Commission cleared the path to transform the former Schumacher’s Hotel & Restaurant building into condominiums.

The commission recommended approval of a conditional use permit to convert the building, located at 212 West Main St., into a condominium. John Schumacher, owner of the building, made the request for the permit.

Schumacher, who owned and operated the popular hotel and restaurant for 31 years, closed it in May and has been operating a gift shop out of the building since then. He presented the proposal at the commission’s November 16 meeting, asking if the plan would be acceptable under the city’s zoning ordinance.

Ken Ondich, New Prague City Planner, said the plan calls for the entire two-story building to be converted to nine residential condominium units. He said the conversion would be a historic reuse of the building, would maintain the historic character of the downtown area and would still draw foot traffic to the downtown. The city’s building inspector will still have to look at the plans and sign off on them.

The city’s zoning does have a specific section for granting conditional use permits, with eight criteria needing to be met. He said the proposal met these criteria.

Schumacher said work will start as soon as possible pending approval by the New Prague City Council. People have already shown interest in the condominiums.

The commission unanimously recommended the permit for approval.

Water tower

The commission unanimously recommended for approval a conditional use permit to allow a municipal water tower in the New Prague Business Park 7th Addition.

The tower would be approximately 165 feet in height and hold 500,000-gallons of water. Work on the tower is expected to begin in the spring.

Childcare facility

The commission unanimously recommended approval of an amendment for the conditional use permit allowing a child care facility in the building at the corner of First Street NE and Chalupsky Avenue NE.

The structure is a mixed-use building that owner Rick Kratochvil has nearly completed. The facility would be located on the west side of the building and would have an outside play area. The owner of the facility is Chantel Dacas and the proposed name would be Heaven Sent Childcare Center.

The commission felt the childcare facility was an allowable use for the area and recommended approval of the amendment.