People who run a business out of their house would be judged by a different test under a rewrite of College Station's home business rules that goes to the Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday, Nov. 19.
The commission holds a public hearing on the change at its 6 p.m. meeting at City Hall, 1101 Texas Ave. The agenda, posted Nov. 12, lists final action by the City Council on Dec. 10, a date the city notes is subject to change.
What the code says now
The current "home occupation" section of the Unified Development Ordinance names 10 kinds of businesses that cannot be run from a house: barber and beauty shops and similar personal services; animal care facilities; dance studios or schools; mortuaries; private clubs; repair shops; restaurants; auto paint or repair shops; medical, dental or veterinary offices; and rooming or boarding houses.
It also bars any home business that changes the outside look of the house, can be seen from the street, brings more than two outside vehicles to park at one time, stores or displays anything outdoors, or employs anyone outside the family. Separate paragraphs set rules for small in-home day cares, bed and breakfasts and taxi services run from a home.
What would replace it
The redlined pages attached to the agenda strike all of that and swap in a "home-based business," defined as one run from a residential property by its owner or tenant to make, provide or sell a lawful good or service.
Such a business would be allowed only if it qualifies as "no-impact," meaning:
- employees and customers on site at any one time do not exceed the occupancy limit for the property;
- it creates no on-street parking and no substantial jump in traffic;
- none of its activities can be seen from a street; and
- it does not substantially raise noise or break a city noise rule.
