The planning  commission is discussing some possible changes to the rules and regulations regarding home-based business in neighborhoods zoned  for R-1 single-family residential development.
The changes would address the home-based business market that is growing within the lakewide planning and zoning district in Camden County.
Planning director Chris Hall said he doesn’t expect to see any public hearing on the issue until later this year.
Discussion is in the preliminary stages, but the planning commission is looking at the possibility of relaxing the rules and regulations through the implementation of conditional use permits.
Under the existing regulations, the guidelines limit home-based businesses to one employee not related to the residents, space used for the enterprise can’t exceed 30 percent of the space and the business can’t change the residential look or feel of the home. The only other option under the regulations is commercial zoning for a use that doesn’t necessarily qualify. Commercial zoning is used for high traffic uses.
Home-based businesses generally don’t have that kind of impact on a neighborhood, Hall said.
The planning commission is looking at conditional use permits to control what is allowed while allowing for some flexibility.
Hall said there are neighborhoods where home occupation businesses can blend in and not create any problems while there are other residential developments that the planning commission would never consider allowing a  home-based business.
The important thing to remember about conditional use permits is a public hearing is always required before the planning commission makes a decision, Hall said. 
With 85 percent of the county zoned for single-family residential, home-based businesses are only going to increase. The commission will be able to consider allowing a home-based business to have more options through conditional use permits.
The one issue the planning commission will not consider is any modification to a structure that would change the residential character of a neighborhood.
Contact this reporter at joycem
@lakesunleader.com