Cape council considers home-based businesses limits

The Cape Girardeau City Council may impose new regulations on home-based businesses in an effort to preserve residential neighborhoods while also providing an opportunity for entrepreneurs.

"The main purpose is to make legal [those] activities that are happening already," city attorney Eric Cunningham said.

The council Monday night voted to hold a public hearing Oct. 18 to allow residents to voice their views on the measure drafted by a Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce committee.

John Mehner, chamber president, told the council that the committee's goal was primarily to protect residential neighborhoods. "Your house has to look like a house," he said.

At the same time, it would allow residents to operate home-based businesses without special-use permits provided that those businesses meet nine conditions:

Besides family members, the business could have only one other employee.

No more than a dozen trips a day to the home by customers, clients and vendors would be allowed.

Direct-sale parties would be limited to one a month and only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.

The outside appearance of the home must be maintained. No business signs, added parking or added lights would be allowed.

No more than two truck deliveries would be allowed per day on a weekly average, excluding regular postal service.

The business must be conducted wholly within a main building or accessory building.

The business would be prohibited from creating noise, vibration, fumes, smoke, dust, odors or electrical interference of radio and television receptions.

The enterprise would be barred from generating any solid waste or sewer discharge not normally associated with residential use.

Only businesses involved in legal activities would be allowed.

Councilwoman Evelyn Boardman questioned allowing a home-based business to employ a non-family member.

But Mehner said the city needs to accommodate home-based businesses in today's Internet age. "We have to make it attractive for people to work out of their homes," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123