The East Ridge Planning Commission met Monday night and approved two requests for rezoning, officials said.

Michael and Courtney Flavin were asking for a single family home on Tombras Avenue across the street from City Hall that has been used as rental property to be rezoned from R1 to Office 2. The Flavin’s want to convert the home to a beauty salon but “keep and maintain the residential look and appeal,” according to their application.

Several people in attendance questioned if the conversion from residential to office space would effect the value of their property. City officials said that all the people who questioned the rezoning were owners of nearby houses but used them exclusively for rental income.

According to the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Planning Commission Case Report, the proposed new use of the proerty would be compatible with surrounding uses. However, it would set a precedent for future requests of commercial uses on Tombras Avenue, the report states.

The East Ridge Planning Commission unanimously approved the request to rezone. The commission stipulated that the city would require screening to be built and that ordinances pertaining to landscaping would be enforced.

In the second case, Cliff Martin requested a house at 501 S. Germantown Road currently being used as an office be rezoned to Office 1 to bring it in line with correct zoning for the structure. City officials said there are currently offices on the north and south sides of Martin’s building which are used as offices.

The planning commission approved the rezoning request.

Both items will now go before the East Ridge City Council in the near future for consideration on affecting the rezoning.