A Seymour property owner has changed his plans to build a storage facility and office for his insulation business at 600 W. Eighth St.

Matt Findley is now proposing to construct duplexes on the 1.25 acres, which was once the site of a brick and concrete block maker.

The Seymour Plan Commission voted 8-0 last week in favor of Findley’s request to rezone the property from its current I-2 industrial zoning classification to R-3 for multi-family residential zoning.

One member, Mark Hays, was absent, and two seats on the board remain vacant.

The rezone will be presented to the city council for approval later this month.

Last April, commissioners rejected Findley’s proposal to rezone the property for commercial purposes.

He had planned to construct a building to operate his insulation business and build rental storage units for boats and recreational vehicles.

Several board members and neighbors to the property said they would rather see the property become a site for new homes because it is surrounded by residential zoning.

Findley said he had little choice but to build the duplexes or sell the property.

Although he doesn’t have the site plan drawn up yet, Findley said he plans to put in three duplexes.

Commissioner Mike Jordan said he appreciated Findley’s willingness to work with the city to do what’s best for the neighborhood.

“I commend him for coming back to us and doing something very positive for that part of town,” Jordan said. “I think it will be a real asset.”

The project will “clean up” that area and goes well with efforts from another local builder who built a new single-family home just down the street on a property that was an eyesore for years, Jordan added.

John Reinhart, who sits on both the plan commission and the city council, said he also was glad to see Findley come back with a different proposal.

“I’m kind of big on trying to save the residential areas and revitalizing them if we can, instead of putting up strip malls, and try to keep the commercial properties in a commercial area and homes in a residential area,” Reinhart said.