Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Code Review topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission asks City Council to review home-occupation rules and business-license exceptions
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to request a City Council review of the city's land-use home-occupation standards and the exceptions to business-license requirements to clarify ambiguous language and reduce reliance on appeals.
On March 26 the Gunnison City Planning and Zoning Commission voted to request that the City Council undertake a review of the city's land-use code provisions governing home occupations and the exceptions to the business-license requirement.
The commission said current language creates uncertainty, especially around an exception that refers to "an agricultural enterprise producing commodities for sale on the premises." Staff and commissioners noted that punctuation and phrasing can change whether a backyard operation that sells produce or flowers to a market or fills commercial orders on site qualifies for an exemption.
City Manager Dennis Marker described typical approaches when municipalities update home-occupation rules: list the standards all home occupations must meet, provide conditional approvals and identify occupations that are prohibited outright. He recommended drafting clearer, narrowly tailored standards that address impacts such as noise, traffic and waste while allowing low-impact operations.
The commission voted, seconded and approved a motion directing staff to draft language for a review and public hearing. Marker said the city will draft options and hold a public hearing before forwarding any changes to City Council for final action.
Commissioners cited local examples, including small seasonal farm stands and the flower-farm application heard that evening, as reasons to pursue clarification. The commission's motion passed by voice vote.
