Home occupation ordinance slogs through Lewes process

A couple who has been waiting more than a year for a decision on whether they can open a dog-grooming business in their Lewes rowhome must wait a bit longer.

Sarah Prieto and Stephen Matthews sat in a mayor and city council public hearing July 7, hoping the process was closer to the finish line.

The hearing was held for council to take public comment on a proposed home occupation ordinance, not that most haven’t already heard the pros and cons over the last 18 months.

The measure addresses at-home businesses as a whole, not dog grooming specifically. It does contain new definitions of pet grooming, kennels and medical offices.

The ordinance was crafted by a Lewes Planning Commission subcommittee and recommended by the full commission.

The ordinance places home businesses is three categories: no impact, low impact and potential impact.

A home business deemed by the city to have potential impact would trigger a new administrative review process. City staff would review the application, then notify adjacent neighbors. If the neighbors object, city staff would hold a meeting with all parties to try to work out a solution.

If that does not work, the applicant could apply for a conditional-use permit for approval by the planning commission, and mayor and city council.

The same review process would apply to a low-impact business that works with animals, a provision that Prieto and Matthews oppose.

A major factor in the proposed dog-grooming business is that Prieto and Matthews live at 405 Savannah Road, in the middle of a block of historic rowhomes. Those homes are zoned limited-commercial, not residential.

Prieto and Matthews are planning to have the business in their basement, with a dedicated entrance from the street.

The couple has been arguing that neighbors can have multiple pets, all living there 24-7, while their business would only host a single dog at a time during daytime hours.

Matthews rejected claims the business would have a negative impact on infrastructure.

“How many residents have pets? They’re supposed to be washing them, grooming them. The pet hair already goes into our combined sewer and trash. Animal businesses are not doing anything that shouldn’t already be done,” he said.

Neighbors have been vocal in their opposition from the beginning, claiming that bringing dogs into the home with shared walls would subject them to noise and odor. They have also said clients would be taking up hard-to-grab parking spaces in front of their homes.

Rob Huber, who lives at 407 Savannah Road, said the couple’s campaign has run its course.

“This has been going on for a year-and-a-half. Nobody wants it. I don’t want it. It’s made animosity in the neighborhood, and I really think we just really need to bring it to a close,” Huber said.

LPC Chair Rich Innes told council the ordinance addresses an issue much bigger than just one business.

“We looked at this much more broadly in terms of what is happening in our community. This is not meant to encourage more commercial activity in our neighborhoods. This is an acknowledgement of what is already going on,” Innes said.

Mayor Amy Marasco said council will leave the comment period open until 4 p.m., Monday, July 21.

She said the ordinance will be on the agenda for council’s August regular meeting.