01-20-1998 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO: Chair Lindquist and Orono Planning Commissioners FROM:Liz Van Zomeren, City Planner/Zoning Administrator DATE:January 9, 1998 SUBJECT: Home Occupation Zoning Code Amendment Application: Background: #2333 Zoning Code amendment re: Home Occupations Amending Section 5.40, Licensing and Section 10.02 Definitions; and Section 10.20, Subd.4, Accessory Uses, C. During 1997 the Planning Commission held several work sessions to discuss revising the definition of home occupations and the regulations for home occupations. Licensing In Section 5.40 of the Municipal Code of Ordinances, the current regulations require home occupations to be licensed each year on September 30th. A initial fee of $50 has been charged for a site visit. A fee of $30 has been charged in the past for the Building Official or Inspector to conduct an annual review. There are fewer than 20 home occupations licensed by the City of Orono. City staft believes that there are more home occupations in the community tlian what an licensed. The Zoning Administrator believes that Licensing extends a privilege beyond property rights and thinks that the licensing process has little value. Staff preference is to eliminate licensing, strengthen the zoning regulations, and handle violations on a complaint basis. The proposed amendment, therefore, eliminates the licensing provision for home occupations. Definition The current definition limits the home occupation to residents only and includes regulations that should be located elsewhere in the body of the ordinance. The proposed definition describes who is considered a nonresident employee and exempts home day care in accordance with state laws. Accessory Use The proposed regulation locates the home occupation standards in the accessory use section for residential districts. It provides a clear purpose statement to guide future planning commissions and