Committee recommends home-occupation permit for cottage bakery with Saturday pick-up hours and Board of Health documentation required

The Land Use/Development Committee recommended approval to the full City Council of a home-occupation permit for Kristin (Kristen) Fontaine’s Cottage Kitchen at 1 Meadow Street, allowing Saturday customer pick-up between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. The committee required that Board of Health approval and other paperwork be filed with committee staff before the full council votes.

Fontaine told the committee she operates a cottage-bakery business at 1 Meadow Street, bakes sourdough and other goods and currently uses a single Saturday “bake day.” She told members she already had Board of Health approval, ServSafe certification, a business license and insurance, and participates in an open-air permit at the Holyoke Farmers Market: “I already have my permit for the Board of Health, my ServSafe, my business license, my insurance. I even have an open air permit because I’m doing the Holyoke Farmers Markets right now.”

Neighbors and property owners asked about traffic and parking on the dead-end street; Councilor Bartley suggested a condition limiting where customers park to mitigate stacking and turning issues. Bartley recommended conditioning approval so “any customers shall park in the petitioner’s driveway,” limiting parking time and encouraging orderly pick-up. Fontaine said she would schedule pick-ups and message customers when orders were ready to avoid simultaneous arrivals.

The motion approved by the committee set operating hours for Saturday pick-up from noon to 5 p.m., required the applicant to provide Board of Health documentation to staff in time for the full council packet, and will be placed on the council agenda for final action.