Zoning board approves home-based ‘Sugar by Sheena’ bakery with pickup limit

The Havre de Grace Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday approved a conditional use allowing a home-based cottage food bakery at 102 Bluebell Court, finding the proposed operation meets local code standards and imposing conditions meant to limit neighborhood impact.

Planning staff summarized the application and recommended approval, saying the property is approximately 4,703 square feet with a 1,760-square-foot townhome in an R-2 residential district. The staff report described the proposed business as a cottage-food operation preparing non-potentially hazardous baked goods "such as cookies, brownies, mini loaf cakes, chocolate covered pretzels, cupcakes" using ordinary residential kitchen appliances, with no on-site employees and sales primarily at farmers markets and vendors. Planning staff recommended approval "subject to a condition that there'd be no more than 2 customer pickups per day." The board adopted that condition.

Applicant Shayanna Sutton, who identified herself as living at the listed address, told the board she had researched cottage-food rules and plans to offer some vegan and allergy-friendly options: "I try to be more I offer vegan options and try to be allergy friendly because my daughter has allergies," she said. Sutton said she will rely on preorders, farmers markets and vendor events and that scheduled customer pickups at the residence would be limited and by appointment.

The board read findings of fact and conclusions of law, applying the requirements of Section 205.21(m) (home-occupation criteria) and Section 25-17(b) (conditional-use criteria). Members found that the use would occur within the residence, would not change the dwelling's exterior character, would use less than half the home's floor area, and—subject to the board's conditions—was unlikely to create excessive traffic, noise, odors or other nuisances. The board approved the conditional use with nine conditions, including (1) pick-ups limited to two per day, (2) operation entirely within the dwelling with no on-site employees, (3) area devoted to the business not to exceed 50% of total floor area, (4) no exterior signage or outdoor storage, (5) indoor storage of goods and supplies, (6) baking and preparation between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., (7) compliance with Maryland cottage-food laws and labeling requirements, (8) the use shall not create excessive traffic or other nuisances, and (9) material expansion or modification requires further review.

The board voted unanimously to approve the motion. The applicant was wished luck by the chair and told the board she will proceed to obtain required state licensing and follow the conditions laid out by the board.

Provenance: Staff recommendation and conditions appear in the staff presentation; applicant statements come from the applicant testimony during the public hearing.