By Brandi Makuski

City officials on Monday will again consider granting a construction permit for the building of a 3,000 square- foot Life Skills Center (LSC) for the public school district.

The school district is also asking the city to rezone the property, located at 349 North Second Street, from B-4 Commercial to R-2 Single Family Residence.

The request to build came to last month’s Common Council but was denied due to incomplete structural blueprints and questions about the center’s proximity to a neighboring tavern, which under state law must be 300 feet from an educational building. The current plans have less than 160 feet between the main entrances of the LSC and Cedar Haus Inn, with Stashs Little White Inn on Second Street some 350 feet away.

The City Council can override the distance requirements by a majority vote.

Superintendent Attila Weninger is slated to be on hand at Monday’s City Plan Commission meeting to answer questions. Previously only Building & Grounds Manager Don Keck was present to represent the district and was unable to answer some questions from the council.

The LSC will be used for teaching independent living skills to learning disabled and other handicapped students, many of whom are wheelchair- bound. The commercial kitchen and apartment- style facilities of the LSC will be compliant with standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The facility is also being billed as a community center and will house the Blue Light Cafe where students will prepare and serve community members.

School officials say they plan to have the construction complete by August.

The city plan commission will meet Monday at 6 PM at the Lincoln Center. The public is welcome to attend.