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Planning board approves UDO change to treat produce stands as general temporary uses
Summary
Planning staff successfully proposed removing month-specific produce-stand rules from the Unified Development Ordinance, allowing produce sellers to follow general temporary-use standards year-round and clarifying that temporary uses must be located on properties with a primary use or improved lot.
The Monroe City Planning Board on Monday approved a zoning text amendment to Section 7.3 of the Unified Development Ordinance to remove the narrow, month-specific language governing produce stands and instead treat produce stands under general temporary-use standards.
Carrie Mentler of the planning department told the board the existing rule limits produce stands to May through October, which can prevent local farmers from selling seasonal crops grown in cooler months. "We are requesting to remove the produce stand language because we feel it is redundant and restrictive for local farmers," Mentler said.
Under the approved amendment, produce sellers seeking to operate on a temporary basis will follow the same standards used for other temporary uses such as Fourth of July fireworks sales or seasonal Christmas-tree lots. Mentler also said the amendment adds a clarification that a temporary use must have a primary property use — for example, an active building or an improved parking lot — and cannot simply set up on unimproved grass or dirt.
Board members asked whether small seasonal sellers seen near the farmers market or consignment shops would be covered; Mentler confirmed those sellers would seek permits under the general temporary-use standards so long as they have the required property permission. The board discussed that residential yard or garage sales remain outside this section and do not require permits.
After brief discussion the board approved three related motions: recommending land-use and transportation plan compliance for the adjustment, adopting the ordinance language amending the code, and adopting the formal resolution recommending approval. Each motion carried with no recorded opposition.
Staff said the changes aim to reduce unnecessary limits on local farmers while ensuring temporary uses meet the city's siting, safety and property-consent standards.
