Columbia Housing Authority officials last year saw their coin-operated laundries as perfect training ground for adults covered by a federal grant aimed at teaching retail and building maintenance skills.

Then city zoning laws changed everything.

CHA had planned to turn small areas inside the three laundry facilities into minimarts that would serve as on-the-job training for housing authority residents. Zoning laws, however, prohibited commercial businesses from operating inside the residential-zoned buildings.

But new rules would allow the minimarts as well as other commercial establishments, such as beauty salons, barber shops, food pantries or physical fitness facilities, on housing authority property.

The rules, adopted yesterday by the Columbia City Council, allow the city’s Board of Adjustment to consider allowing the businesses inside medium density, multiple-family zoning districts.

"We’re just allowing someone to consider whether this is a good idea," City Manager Bill Watkins said.

Phil Steinhaus, housing authority chief executive officer, said he thinks it’s a very good idea. CHA has been training residents for retail or maintenance jobs in classrooms at the J.W. "Blind" Boone Center on Switzler Street.

Under the new rules, businesses can operate on housing authority property with some restrictions. For example, the businesses cannot have signs larger than 4 square feet, and the hours of operation are limited to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The businesses also cannot sell alcohol, tobacco or firearms.

"This will serve our residents and not be disruptive to anyone else outside," Steinhaus said of the CHA-run businesses.

The housing authority now operates three laundry facilities, and minimarts are planned at each in coming weeks.

Jeffery Johnson, a CHA resident who also is a member of the agency’s governing board, lauded the city’s change in zoning law.

"It’s a good opportunity for a lot of residents," he said.

Council members last night approved the changes unanimously without discussion.

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