Planning Board approves home-occupation art classes at 63 Willard Road with safety condition

The Louisville Planning Board voted unanimously on July 14, 2026, to grant a special exception allowing homeowner Mera Gamble to operate painting and craft classes at 63 Willard Road (tax map #15.040-4-1), with the condition that emergency exit/safety lighting be installed.

Code Clerk Dawn Parker read the referral from the St. Lawrence County Planning Office and explained that the parcel is in the CC — Community Center district, where home occupations are permitted with a special exception. "Mrs. Gamble would like to hold painting and craft classes at her residence," the clerk stated as the board opened the item for discussion.

Gamble told the board she currently teaches similar classes at commercial venues in St. Lawrence and neighboring counties and described the proposed operation: typical class sizes of 10–15 participants, a maximum of 20, sessions lasting 2–3 hours in mid-afternoon and early evening, held in a garage or sunroom and outdoors under pop-up tents in good weather. She said no alcohol will be served.

She also described logistics and safety measures: "Off-street parking will be available in the driveway and side yard (packed gravel). Both driveway and side areas [are] plowed and salted in winter," and the property has multiple egress points (garage doors, man doors, sunroom doors). The applicant agreed to add emergency exit lighting as a condition of approval.

Planning Board member James Kenney moved "to grant the special exception to proceed with the home occupation as presented with the condition that exit/safety lights be installed, at 63 Willard Road, tax map # 15.040-4-1, owned by Roy and Mera Gamble." Christine Amo seconded the motion; the motion passed unanimously. Four board members were recorded present for the vote.