Washington’s City Council wants the city’s Planning Board to expedite its review of the section of the city’s zoning laws regarding the conversion of single-family dwellings into multi-family dwellings in the B1H (business historic) zoning district.

During its Nov. 9 meeting, the council decided not to conduct a public hearing Nov. 23 regarding a temporary moratorium on such conversions. The Planning Board recommended conducting such a hearing.

In September, Don Stroud asked for a moratorium on converting single-family dwellings in the B1H district into multifamily dwellings. Stroud contended the city’s existing zoning ordinances prohibit such conversions in that district. The council sent the matter to the Planning Board for review and a recommendation. Stroud opposed plans for the house at 121 E. Second St. into several apartments. About eight people at the September meeting supported Stroud.

California-based McLean Investment Co. LLC bought the house Aug. 28 for $171,000, according to Beaufort County deed records and other real-estate transaction records. The owners told the council they were told by city officials they could proceed with their project. Several days after that meeting, a building permit was issued for the project, which is under way.

The house has a history of being used as a multi-family dwelling.

Neither Stroud nor the owners attended the Nov. 9 meeting.

“The Planning Board was in favor of setting up a moratorium to give them some time to look at this ordinance. They felt this was the best thing to do at this time. We have about 30 single-family homes in the commercial district. They were a little afraid it would happen again, or they didn’t want it to happen again,” John Rodman, the city’s director of community and cultural resources, told the council Nov. 9.

Rodman noted the city’s zoning ordinances prohibit converting single-family homes in residential districts into multi-family homes. The Planning Board wants to consider whether to prohibit such conversions in the B1H district, he said.

At that same meeting, City Attorney Franz Holscher indicated that imposing the requested moratorium, because it would affect residential uses of property, might not be allowed under state law. Holscher said the city should review and consider revisions to its ordinances regarding multi-family residences “because it’s subject to a myriad of interpretations.”

Councilman Doug Mercer suggested the Planning Board “speed up” its review and develop a recommendation for the council to consider. The council wants the recommendation no later than Feb. 1, 2016.