Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Home Occupation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves garage-to-salon home-occupation at 387 Old County Road with employee and hour limits
Summary
The Hampden Planning Board approved a conditional-use application allowing conversion of a garage at 387 Old County Road into a home hair salon, limiting staffing to one employee total and setting a latest closing time of 8:00 p.m.; the applicant was not present at the hearing.
The Hampden Planning Board on March 11 approved a conditional-use permit to convert an existing garage at 387 Old County Road into a home-based hair salon, with conditions that only one employee may work at the salon at any time and that the business must not remain open past 8:00 p.m.
The public hearing was opened by the Chair and the Town Planner described the proposal as a customary home occupation for the applicant’s wife and potentially one additional stylist, noting the applicant was not present and that hours of operation had not been provided. "They wanna convert a existing garage into a hair salon at 387 Old County Road," the Town Planner said, and added that a support letter had been submitted to the board.
Board members sought clarification about how the salon would relate to the residence. One member noted the drawings looked as if the first floor would include business space, and the Town Planner and Chair confirmed the family would continue to reside on the property and that living space would remain on the first floor. The planner recommended—and the motion included—a condition to make explicit that only one employee total may work at the site and that the business close no later than 8 p.m. The planner explained the ordinance itself limits employees but the condition was added for clarity.
A member moved to approve the application "based on the findings and information presented herein" and to impose conditions limiting employees and establishing an 8 p.m. closing time; the motion was seconded and, after clarification that the ordinance allows the applicant plus one employee, the board voted unanimously to approve.
The applicant was not present to answer questions about hours; the Town Planner told the board that hours of operation were "not specified" in the application. The board record lists the property as Lot 21-0-019. No amendments to the motion were made at the meeting. The board did not set a follow-up reporting requirement at the meeting.
