Rise in Home-Based Businesses Tests Neighborliness

[phantom power]

Signs of the times.

Local Officials Search for Ways to Support Economically Squeezed Entrepreneurs While Keeping Noise, Traffic in Check

The recession is causing a growing number of people to venture into home businesses, a boost for the economy but a nuisance for neighbors.

As jobless people trade their desks for kitchen tables, or as businesses reduce costs by giving up commercial storefronts, cities and states are grappling with problems caused by a rise in home businesses such as traffic and noise. Officials say they want to encourage people make a living at home but also keep these serenity busters at bay.

Officials in Nashville, Tenn., are discussing ways to loosen restrictions governing the operation of home businesses as high unemployment prods a growing number of entrepreneurs into offering everything from hair perms to piano lessons out of their living rooms.

Nashville's planning code allows home-based businesses as long as no customers come to the house—a rule that is causing problems for front-porch barbers and others. City officials are now drafting less-stringent zoning to bring before the planning commission this month.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703357104575045681306759898.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

[MineralMan]

1. We had a home business in my neighborhood a while back,

sort of a pharmaceutical factory. The police came, though, and shut it down.

[phantom power]

2. Neighborly!

[MineralMan]

3. Won't you be my neighbor?

[upi402]

4. A contractor moved in down the street. Vans on their muddy lawn and

Crowding the corner with parking their big trucks. But no effort to curb it made by the city hall just down the street. If we're going to go for it like S.E. Asia then lets get it on. But this sneaky crap where we pay taxes for commercial zoning and use, but they use a house as a business which crowds and degrades the area is not fair.

In S.E. Asia anybody can set up a table on the sidewalk and sell, Some tea money to the local police may be needed instead of a permit, but folks are free to go for it.

[my2sense]

5. Makes sense to me

If people can figure out a way to make money from home during these times, codes should be adjusted to accommodate them as long as it does not infringe on neighbors rights.

[phantom power]

6. When something is inevitable, it's generally best to legalize it and regulate it.

People are doing this out of necessity. Fighting it just makes it harder for people to adapt to the new economic realities.