Fairfield council rezones Lincoln School in time for Huffmans’ Christmas event

FAIRFIELD – The Fairfield City Council approved the third and final reading of an ordinance to rezone the former Lincoln School as mixed use, which will allow Jim and Teresa Huffman to hold their “Ho Ho Ho Holiday Event” there this season.

The Huffmans purchased the building from the school district earlier this year, and asked the city council to rezone it from R2 Residential to MU Mixed Use so they could host events there. The Huffmans have hosted Christmas and Easter-themed events at JC Huffman Cabinetry for the past couple of years, but needed more space to accommodate the number of visitors they had.

The council voted 6-0 in favor of the rezoning at its meeting Tuesday, Nov. 12. Council member Paul Gandy, who voted against the second reading of the ordinance two weeks before, said it was a difficult vote for him.

“I’m conflicted,” Gandy said. “I am in favor of economic development. I think it could be a very good thing for the community. It will change the character of the neighborhood, I do think, maybe substantially, and it could be for the good. I’m hopeful and optimistic that the Huffmans will be good stewards of the property and the neighborhood.”

Those voting in favor were Gandy, Matthew Rowe, Judy Ham, Tom Twohill, Elizabeth Estey and Doug Flournoy. Terri Kness was absent.

According to information posted on the Visit Fairfield Iowa’s event guide, the Huffmans will hold the “Ho Ho Ho Holiday Event” at the Lincoln Center at 401 W. Stone Ave. starting Friday, Nov. 29 and continuing every Friday and Saturday through Dec. 21, from 5:30-8 p.m. each time. This year’s event will include a Harry Potter theme in addition to the Whoville theme from before, and will offer a hot chocolate bar, photo with Santa, commemorative ornament, and more. Admission is $15.

Fairfield City Engineer and Public Works Director Melanie Carlson told the council that the mixed use designation would just allow the Huffmans to hold their Christmas event, but not necessarily hold an unlimited number of events consistent with an “events center.” The reason is that, under mixed use zoning, an events center is a “conditional” use but not a “permitted” use, meaning the property owner needs to get the blessing of the Board of Adjustment.

In a business district, by contrast, an events center would be considered a permitted use and would not need the Board of Adjustment’s approval.

Carlson told The Union that the reason the Lincoln School could host the Ho Ho Ho Holiday Event is that it would be no different from a business that hosts Business After Hours events multiple times during the year.

“Most of the year she’ll operate it as office space,” Carlson said of Teresa’s use of the building. “When she gets to the point that she’s renting it to other people or having trade shows, that would classify it as an events center. It’s a fine line, and we don’t normally get into this much detail on zoning.”

This change in zoning applies to eight adjoining properties in addition to the former school. Of those, seven are residences and one is a business.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com

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