By Lisa Carolin
Following a public hearing about changing the zoning of the home at 175 Park Street in Chelsea (ID number 06-06-12-184-007), from R-2 (Two-Family Residential) to DT (Downtown Mixed-Use) with conditions, the Chelsea Planning Commission voted at its May 19, 2026 meeting to recommend to Chelsea City Council to approve the conditional rezoning of the property.
The conditions the applicant, Robert Riemenschneider, voluntarily offered as part of the rezoning are:
- Restore historical home for occupancy. Will not demolish.
- Uses that are not permitted: schools, religious institutions, arena/theater, banks, banquet hall, bar, clubs and lodges, craft distilleries, funeral homes and mortuaries, gym and fitness center, hotel, indoor commercial amusements, micropubs and brewpubs, printing establishments, retail sales, small winemakers, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, warehousing.
- No outdoor storage of materials
- Impervious coverage maximum: 75%
- Will add 4 off-street parking spaces
Riemenschneider spoke at the meeting about his family’s history in the home beginning in 1938 when his grandfather bought the home. Riemenschneider, who is part of Riemco Design and Build, said that changing the zoning would make it more feasible to deal with the costs of renovating the property, which has sentimental value to his family, and using the professional skills of Riemco Design + Build to renovate the home and add on to it.
Neighbors of the property spoke during public comment and were supportive for the most part of the house being rezoned and renovated. A few speakers were concerned about what might happen if and when the applicant might ever sell the house, while others were concerned about other nearby properties wanting to change their zoning.
The city’s planning firm Carlisle/Wortman Assoc., Inc. recommended approving the zoning change saying, “while the Future Land Use Map may not designate the subject property specifically for the requested zoning classification, the proposal aligns with broader planning objectives such as encouraging compatible land use transitions, supporting orderly growth, and promoting efficient use of land and infrastructure. Additionally, potential impacts are mitigated by the Downtown zoning district’s form-based code and site plan review requirements as well as the conditions offered by the applicant, which help ensure compatibility in terms of scale, use intensity, and site design.”
