Ferrysburg planning commission recommends allowing small residential produce stands to city council

The Ferrysburg Planning Commission voted to recommend that the city council adopt an amendment to city code (chapter 154, zoning, section 3.28) to permit small-scale produce stands in residential zoning districts.

At the start of public comment, Jason Larabell of 16814 Virginia Avenue told the commission he and Nicole Larabell "support the change of this ordinance" and urged the commission to forward the proposal to council. "By allowing neighbors to also hand out their produce at the small produce stands, is a really positive direction," he said. Nicole Larabell added support for the change and thanked staff and volunteers for their work on the item.

Chairman Post opened the commission discussion and a commissioner moved to recommend adoption to city council; the motion was seconded. The chair called for the question, and the commission voiced approval to forward the ordinance to council for final consideration.

Why it matters: the amendment would allow small, neighborhood-level produce stands in residential areas, which proponents said would enable residents to share or sell local produce with neighbors. The commission did not specify operational standards in its motion; the ordinance text under consideration is an amendment to section 3.28 of chapter 154 of the zoning code.

Next steps: the commission recommended the ordinance to the city council, which will consider final adoption. The commission did not record a detailed roll-call vote in the transcript; no opposing votes were announced during the meeting's voice vote.

Sources: public comments from Jason Larabell and Nicole Larabell; the motion and voice vote on the ordinance recommendation as recorded during the Planning Commission meeting.