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Commissioners suggest interim permit approach for temporary sales office at Smith Grove development
Summary
Developers for the Smith Grove (University/Viking) subdivision asked about using a temporary structure for a sales office; commissioners said a time-limited interim-use/conditional permit tied to a model home or building permit would be the consistent approach and recommended codifying the practice in future code updates.
Developers of the Smith Grove (University and Viking) subdivision raised an issue at the Feb. 20 meeting about placing a temporary sales office on a model lot while remaining lots are developed.
Staff described that code does not explicitly provide for a builder's temporary sales office or trailer as a dedicated use in the current zoning code. Commissioners observed that common development practice elsewhere is to use a model home as the sales office or to permit a temporary structure (construction trailer / mobile office) for a limited period tied to active construction or to the existence of a model home.
Commissioners and staff suggested the practical approach would be an interim use or conditional permit with explicit time limits and conditions (for removal, utilities, and accessibility), or simply to use the completed model home as the sales office until the model is sold. They flagged potential issues for a permanent trailer on the corner: building-code, plumbing/toilet access, accessibility and ADA requirements if public customers are invited into the unit, and the risk that a temporary unit could remain on site long past construction without an explicit removal timeline.
Staff and commissioners said the city could consider adding a specific temporary-sales-office or temporary-model-home provision to the code to provide clear standards and limits; they also noted precedent in other communities and suggested a conditional or interim permit would be appropriate now while staff considers whether to propose a code amendment.
No formal action or vote was taken on the request; staff said the developer could pursue a temporary permit, build and use a model home for sales, or seek a development agreement with conditions.
