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THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. <br />Commissioner Narum conceptually agreed with staff that this kind of business belonged <br />in a storefront. However, she understood the desire to test the waters for this business <br />without going thousands of dollars into debt. She noted that people who gave music <br />lessons from their home had students arriving and leaving every half hour. She would be <br />willing to give this use a chance, but she would like the use permit to have a sunset <br />clause; she believed this use did belong in a storefront on a long-term basis. She noted <br />that larger landscaping trucks went into her own neighborhood, which did not appear to <br />be a problem. <br />Commissioner Blank had not realized this would be a niche market until the end of the <br />public hearing. <br />Commissioner Olson noted that he had been concerned about whether the applicant could <br />succeed in this business and was pleased to hear that she had a niche market. He would <br />support the denial of the appeal. He believed that because the applicant had a niche, she <br />would be able to succeed right away with a proper storefront. <br />With respect to the layout of the living room and dining room, Commissioner Blank <br />noted that it did appear to be the same room and that it was clearly more than 50 square <br />feet. He noted that 50 square feet was not very large and inquired whether that limit <br />should be adhered to for all home businesses. He added that his own home office was <br />more than 50 square feet. <br />Commissioner Narum noted that the 50-square-foot limit was for storage. <br />Commissioner Pearce inquired when the Code was written and noted that it seemed to her <br />the 50-square-foot requirement was for 1,400-square-foot homes; this home was about <br />3,500 square feet. She suggested that the requirement be updated and noted that the <br />living/dining area appeared to be one large room. She had some concerns about Saturday <br />appointments, but her concerns were somewhat mitigated by proposed restrictions on the <br />number of cars or the hours. <br />Commissioner O'Connor noted that he was torn on this issue. He had concerns about a <br />retail business being operated out of a home but did not think there would be a great deal <br />of traffic. He did not believe there may be as much traffic as that generated by the <br />applicant's mother's alternations business. He would like to explore Commissioner <br />Narum's suggestion of a sunset clause on this conditional use permit. <br />Commissioner Blank noted that while the City did not like to place sunset clauses on <br />conditional use permits, he noted that the Director of Planning has stated that they may be <br />implemented. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 24, 2007 Page 21 of 40 <br />