BUCKINGHAM – Concurring with a request from the planning commission, Buckingham County's Board of Supervisors scheduled a public hearing for 7:15 p.m. at the January 9 meeting.

The hearing will offer the public an opportunity to address proposed changes in the Zoning Ordinance regarding home-based businesses.

Zoning Administrator Rebecca Cobb explained that the planning commission is recommending removing the current definition of Home Occupation from the Zoning Ordinance and replacing it with Home Based Business.

As proposed, a Home Based Business is defined as a business located on the same property with the owner's primary dwelling, which may be located within the home or in a separate building. The business may employ those residing on the premises and no more than three persons that do not reside at the property.

Continuing, the definition stipulates that the business does not create noise, vibration, glare, fumes or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the lot. If the business is not a permitted use, the owner must apply for a special use permit.

Cobb told supervisors during their December meeting that she was recommending an additional line be added stating, “However, home offices which have no outside presence, including but not limited to signs, storage, customers, production, manufacturing, shall be exempt from the requirement of a special use permit.”

Additionally, Cobb recommended adding an effective date to the definition so that from that day forward any new businesses would have to comply with it.