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Resident told home-occupation vehicle repair likely barred under current code
Summary
A West Haven resident seeking to run motor vehicle work from his property was told the city’s home-occupation code requires a one-acre lot for such uses; staff said an application can be filed but would likely be denied and appealed if desired.
Thomas Anderson, a West Haven resident, asked the council during public comment about next steps for a proposed business and whether he could obtain a business license to do vehicle repair from his property.
"I'd like to ... be a good citizen of West Haven and see what I can do to make this work," Anderson said.
City staff and council members explained the planning commission had previously considered and rejected amending the home-occupation ordinance to allow motor-vehicle uses on smaller lots. Staff said the city’s current code draws a clear line: motor-vehicle home occupations require a one-acre lot; the resident’s lot, cited by him as about 0.96 acres, does not meet that threshold. "It doesn't fit the code," a city staff member said when describing the application’s fit with existing rules.
Staff told Anderson he could submit a home-occupation application and, if denied, could appeal the decision to the appeal hearing officer, but cautioned that the planning commission had been "incredibly clear" in its earlier discussion that it would not amend the rule. Anderson asked whether there was any other avenue or compromise; council and staff noted that ordinances could be amended in the future but under current code a vehicle-repair home occupation would likely be denied.
No formal action was taken on the request during the meeting.
The exchange clarified where enforcement and permitting currently stand for motor-vehicle activities in residential zones and informed the resident of the application and appeals path.
