PC 090909 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commissioner Pentin stated that he has a web designer in town, he has never been to her home but she does great work, and he would hate to see her affected by this. Ms. Decker replied that staff was concentrating on non-exempt and that it might be important to update the information, such as removing the word “typewriter” and adding in more state-of-the-art office equipment. Commissioner Blank suggested language such as “a business that never receives customers on-site and/or that has no on-site inventory is categorized as exempt.” He added that this would thereby include writers, web designers, programmers, independent contractors, and all those who do all of their work on-line and on-site. Chair Pearce stated that if the Commission is considering significant changes, she would like to see the item return to the Commission before it goes to the City Council. Commissioners Blank and O’Connor both agreed. Commissioner O’Connor requested that the work “audibly” be added to “visually” in Item L under Section 18.104.030 on page 2. Chair Pearce recalled that the Commission had a discussion on a wedding dress home occupation, and there were concerns about the use of one room as opposed to multiple rooms in the house. Ms. Decker stated that she spent time reviewing this particular example, and staff considered this a non-exempt home occupation permit. She added that the area staff was considering over one-room size was actually more like a living room/dining room area, and the Planning Commission thought it was simply four walls defining that space. She noted that some of the other concerns were the shipping and receiving of dresses, storage of dresses in more than one room, in the garage, as well as customers coming to the house. She indicated that staff has not received any complaints to date about this home occupation. Chair Pearce stated that houses tend to become a little less structured and inquired if “one room” or “x-number of square feet” should be used in terms of the house. Ms. Decker replied that Item B under Section 18.104.030 actually states “…one room of a dwelling or more than 50 square feet of an accessory building or garage.” Commissioner Pearce stated that she thinks if it is ancillary to the house, such as a big room rather than half a house taken over the business, then it would no longer be ancillary but non-exempt. Commissioner O’Connor stated that he felt it was appropriate to say “no more than one room” as there are not that many people who have 50-square-foot rooms in their homes. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 9, 2009 Page 13 of 16