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Ms. Frolik inquired about whether businesses should be allowed in residential garages. She <br />explained that although the City has a process for home occupations to be permitted in a <br />residential home with a conditional use permit (CUP), there is no legal process available for <br />businesses occurring in garages. When she learns of such a business, she has no option but to <br />shut them down. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued regarding various types of "garage businesses" and whether they generated <br />problems with traffic, outside storage, unsightly conditions, noise, etc. <br /> <br />Ms. Frolik stated that if the Council wanted to review each on a case-by-case basis, then <br />provisions for such would have to be put into the City Code. She noted that there would be <br />many requests. <br /> <br />Commissioner Jensen wondered whether "we are opening ourselves up to controversy when <br />approving one and not the next." <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen stated that there are businesses that might be allowed in the rural <br />area that would not be allowed on an urban lot. <br /> <br />Commissioner Deemer suggested getting something into Chapter 9 before the current Chapter 9 <br />review comes to the City Council. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bawden inquired, "Where do you draw the line?" <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen suggested researching other cities to see if they have something on <br />this. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec wondered if a provision in City Code for allowing businesses in residential <br />garages is recreating problems we have already solved. <br /> <br />It was the consensus of the Council and Planning Commission that Staff research how this issue <br />is handled in other cities. <br /> <br />Ms. Frolik then summarized the criteria she uses when determining whether a home occupation <br />permit is required. If the home is basically used as a phone and address base only for the <br />business and no clients or customers are serviced in the home, then no home occupation permit is <br />required. Because of the computer age, she believed that at some point in the future <br />consideration should be given to registering all types of business occurring in the home in order <br />to measure their growth. <br /> <br />It was the consensus of the Council and Planning Commission that the current criteria being used <br />is acceptable. <br /> <br />City Council-Planning Commission/August 6, 1997 <br /> Page 3 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />