06-04-1997 Planning Commission Minutes

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• MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION TOPIC: HOME OCCUPATIONS HELD JUNE 4, 1997 Smith said people work differently and may be on a part time or project basis. Hawn said an employee would be considered a person coming from outside the residence. Van Zomeren felt the consensus of members was that one employee or individual living outside of the house would be acceptable. Gaffron clarified that the members' recommendation would not require a license for up to one outside person coming into the home for work purposes. Stoddard discussed location of occupation and felt it could be handled under the normal zoning laws for both principal residences and accessory structures. Van Zomeren pointed out the code would deal with issues of instruction such as riding lessons given in barns or tennis lessons on courts. Stoddard felt it would be better to store supplies such as electrical or plumbing in a building rather than outside. Hawn felt that residential lots are not a place to store stuff used to conduct a business. Stoddard said some items might only be computer disks. Van Zomeren suggested that the rural characteristics of Orono can be preserved so that home occupation licensing would be allowed for rural activities compatible with agricultural homesteads. But in the future those uses might not always be desirable on 2 acre lots. Schroeder left the meeting at 8:55 a.m. Hawn was concerned that a business could be permitted in a non - commercial zone and not have to pay commercial rate taxes. Stoddard concluded that location be limited to the residence using current zoning restrictions and grandfather existing structures. Discussion began on size. Gaffron explained a situation which occurred when four people rented or leased a lake house only for the purpose of gaining the four dock slips as they did not reside in the house. The code has no provisions to prevent that. He sees non - occupancy of the property as is a potential problem. 4