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Planning Commission forwards home-occupation ordinance with business-license changes
Summary
At a Planning Commission meeting, members voted to forward a revised home-occupation section to the Town Council and recommended changing the business-license application so home-occupation checklists are handled by staff before referral.
The Bicknell Planning Commission voted to forward its revised home-occupation ordinance to the Bicknell Town Council, recommending changes to the business-license application and a staff checklist to screen potential home-based businesses before referral.
The commission’s recommended edits clarify who may run a home-based business and how such businesses will be handled administratively. Commissioners discussed language requiring the business owner to live on the same lot as the business, limiting employees to bona fide residents of the dwelling, restrictions on retail and online sales tied to the home business, vehicle- and parking-related limits, and a 30-day limit for vehicles stored on the premises unless stored inside.
“Must live at the residence,” said Jim, Planning Commission member, summarizing the committee’s change to tie the business location to the parcel. Commissioners debated replacing the phrasing “in the eyes of the town council” with “in the opinion of the town council” for a section describing revocation of the home-occupation privilege, with Darcy, Planning Commission member, and others preferring “opinion.”
Commissioners agreed the town’s business-license form should include a clear checkbox for “home occupation” and that the back of the license or a separate attachment should contain a checklist (items 1–12 referenced in the discussion) that staff (Carrie or Kelsey) will use. If an application does not meet the checklist, staff will refer it to the Planning Commission; the Planning Commission may recommend approval with conditions or recommend denial when the matter is forwarded to the Town Council for final action.
The draft ordinance spells out operational limits: businesses must operate on the same lot as the residence; employees must be bona fide residents of the home (the commission discussed replacing “bona fide residents” with simpler wording such as “residents of the home”); retail sales on the premises or online must be limited to merchandise directly related to services offered by the home occupation; vehicles related to the business may not block neighbor access; and vehicles or equipment left on site must be actively worked on and may not remain longer than 30 days unless stored inside or behind a privacy fence.
Jim moved to forward the home-occupation/business-license changes to the Town Council with the commission’s recommended application checklist; Diane seconded the motion. The recorded vote was Jim — yes (mover), Diane — yes (second), Darcy — yes, and Ellen — yes. Connie was noted as absent. The motion carried.
“Okay. I will get that sent on to them tomorrow,” said Jim, Planning Commission member, reporting the action would be transmitted to the Town Council the next day.
The commission also agreed on formatting changes (reversing “home occupation / business license” to “business license / home occupation” on the form), clarification that sign rules are covered by existing town ordinances, and that staff will prepare a two-sided or separate-page application so non–home-occupation businesses are not forced to print unnecessary pages.
Next steps: staff will finalize the application/checklist layout with Carrie, and the Planning Commission will forward the ordinance and the recommended application change to the Town Council for final consideration.
