Perry Council tackles residential business

Perry Mayor and Council held its first pre-council and council meeting of the month on June 1. Both meeting are welcoming to the public and citizens to voice their opinion and listen. Perry’s council members are very invested on the well being of their citizens. The pre-council and council addressed and reviewed many important upcoming events and meetings.

Starting at 5:00 p.m. the pre-council meeting began with Community Development Director Bryan Wood speaking in regard to the Garden Drive for Maintenance. Wood stated that there was a question on whether or not they would be building a house on this property, and would it require the city to have to pave Garden Drive. Garden Drive is now just a plain dirt road.

“There was some discussion with the owner,” said Wood, “and the owner stated that they would just like to donate it to the city and let the city maintain it.”

This statement was put into writing for Mayor Randall Walker and council for their consideration on whether or not they would be willing to maintain it. Wood and the city attorney discussed that there is no issue with building the house and having to pave the road. The issue that needs discussed is to get council to take the road and maintain it.

Mayor and council unanimously denied the request for the city to maintain Garden Drive.

Wood then moved forward to speak the topic of Home Occupations and Residential Business. Both of these could be businesses that can be operated out of the home. The home occupation doesn’t allow clients to come to their homes, while staff runs the residential business and the clients are allowed to enter their homes.

Examples of residential business are home daycares and hair salons. Both of these business types are considered accessory use to the residential business, and therefore, they have to maintain the residential character of the house.

Wood stated, “Over the years, there has been a request for more online sales; for people selling handmade products, which are associated with Etsy and Poshmark. All applications will go through the business license office, and staffers use those applications to confirm that they meet all requirements for a home occupation.”

According to Wood, almost all the applications are approved.

At 6:00 p.m., mayor and council called to order the regular council meeting, and it began with a citizen by the name of Andrew Baker who spoke on his family’s hair salons. He and his family purchased a 1920s home in December of last year and renovated it.

“We had to change/pay for all the plumbing and wiring to get redone,” Baker said. “Me and my salon have brought in a lot of new stylists and customers to the city of Perry.”

As of January 25, an exception was passed the in all areas. Baker was addressing council because on March 16, they were made aware that his business was not compliant. They were told that they needed to have a paved parking lot. Baker reported that they tired the best they could, but as a small business, money was short due to the pandemic.

To have the parking lot paved it would cost roughly from $14 to $20 thousand, and Baker stated that they can’t afford that now. In closing, he wanted to know if there were any grants or any positive feedback that the mayor or council members could provide to him. No advance was offered from mayor and council during the meeting.

Next, Mayor walker addressed a public hearing. This public hearing is to provide parties with an opportunity to express their views and concerns in accordance with O.C.G.A.

Continuing, Ms. Wharton gave a second reading of the annexation of the property located at 111 Hill Road. The city of Perry recommended approval of the annexation and the Perry Planning Commission also recommended the approval as well. The council members denied the approval of the annexation unanimously.

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