BZA unanimously approves home-based embroidery business in Green Township

The Morgan County Board of Zoning Appeals on July 27 unanimously approved special exception SE-26-06 to allow an embroidery and apparel business to operate from an accessory building at 4395 Ennis Road in Green Township.

Petitioner Sean Walls told the board he has run the embroidery business for three years and that the operation is primarily fulfillment for an online store and work for commercial customers. "We have embroidery machines in, pneumatic heat press machine... The average customer per day is probably 1 to 2," Walls said, describing deliveries handled by UPS, FedEx and USPS and saying he is the sole employee.

Staff read the six findings required under the Unified Development Ordinance and reported that Walls’ application met each standard, noting the business will be contained in a standalone building and is not expected to cause traffic, noise or other impacts. Board members asked about site layout and ingress/egress; Walls and the board confirmed the property has a separate entrance and exit to avoid stopping traffic on the public road.

After brief discussion in which members said the proposal appeared well planned, a board member moved to approve SE-26-06 "with all findings of fact being found true by reason stated by the petitioner and the staff report." The motion was seconded and the measure passed by unanimous voice vote.

The approval allows the petitioner to lawfully operate the embroidery business at the stated address subject to applicable building, health and safety codes; no additional permit conditions beyond the standard UDO findings were recorded in the hearing.