By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
With the overarching goal of maintaining the residential character of its neighborhoods, Village of Waterford officials have proposed an ordinance to place tighter restrictions around home-based employees and business owners.
The Village Board on April 13 had a first reading of an ordinance that, if enacted, will amend a portion of the municipal code that addresses zoning matters and home occupations.
According to village officials, the ordinance and code amendment proposal arose for consideration in a situation in which homemade furniture was displayed for sale on a Village lawn for an extended period of time.
“It shouldn’t be clear to the average person that you are working out of your home,” Village Attorney Marcy Hasenstab said, pointing to the rationale behind the ordinance proposal.
As drafted, the ordinance does permit home-based business owners to place one sign on their lawn.
The village has anticipated placing several measurable expectations within the ordinance. For instance, there is a stipulation stating no more than 25 percent of a home’s habitable space should be used for business purposes.
Parameters have also been set around employees working out of a home business.
Aside from immediate family members living in a dwelling, no more than one additional person can work on the premises at any given time, according to the proposal.
One exception is for rummage sales. Because they are temporary in nature, the Village plans to still permit them without any of the stipulations that could otherwise be imposed. The time-honored tradition of children’s lemonade stands and similar scenarios also would be allowed to continue.
The Village Board is slated to take definitive action on the proposed ordinance May 11.
A public hearing will be held at that meeting, in advance of the board making a decision.
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