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PZC keeps major home-occupation special-permit process, removes Transfer of Development Rights from draft regulations
Summary
Commissioners agreed to retain major home-occupation rules as a special-permit review to preserve discretion while removing Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) language; staff will clarify Work/Live definitions against Connecticut statute and funding.
Commissioner Joseph Gentile argued that major home occupations conflict with the separation of residential and commercial zones and recommended eliminating them, saying most residents expect that retail businesses will not move next to homes. Planning Director Hiram Peck and consultant Robert Collins, however, recommended retaining the major home-occupation regulation as a special-permit process that allows the Commission to impose conditions and enforce compliance.
Commissioners ultimately agreed to keep the major home-occupation special-permit pathway so the Commission can exercise discretion when necessary, while the panel reached consensus to remove Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) from the draft Regulations for now. The Commission also asked staff to research Connecticut's Work/Live statutory definition and consult the Town Attorney before changing the Work/Live connection requirement between business owner and tenant.
