Planning commission approves code cleanup to explicitly allow cottage industries in residential and mixed-use zones

The Mendon Planning Commission voted to accept staff’s recommendation to amend the city code to explicitly allow cottage industries in specified residential and mixed-use commercial zones. Staff described the change as a cleanup to reflect an earlier adoption of a cottage-industry definition and to ensure the code text matches that intent.

Michael explained the cottage-industries change was intended to allow limited home-based businesses — for example, piano teachers, art instructors and similar low-impact services — in the residential zones and in certain commercial mixed-use zones where home occupations already are permitted. The item was presented as a public hearing; no members of the public spoke, the hearing was closed, and the commission moved to adopt the staff-proposed language and conditions.

A commissioner moved to accept the conditions and the code changes listed by staff; another commissioner seconded and the motion passed on voice vote. Staff said the change is a cleanup and is not intended to expand uses beyond what was discussed when the cottage industries code was originally adopted.