No Business Liscense :(

Well I guess I did things the backwards way, and as many of you know went and got my fictitious name to run the nursery, my nursery liscense, and resale tax id, all before going to get my occupational liscense. Didn't think it was a big deal only 13.00 and some change. Mom even talked to the lady who does the paper work said she'd do it for free if we give her a plant when we open. SOOOO my babysitter (for my daughter) goes today to pay the money and pick up the liscense. Low and behold we can't get one... They said its not zoned commercial even though its in the middle of a ton of businesses and right downtown in a small town.. So, what do I do. I called the mayor at home HA mom looked his phone number up in the phone book. He buys plants from me at work where I work now, and went to school with my mom. He asked if we were gonna sell wholesale haha (he buys the plants for the city from the nursery where I work) and I told him yes, and he says he's going to see what he can do. Something about it being a "home office" Does anyone know about this stuff, like if we were to get zoning changed, would that mean no-one could live there? Because my mom has to have that house to live in its her retirement house... AARRGGG sorry just felt like venting :)

Katrina

Katrina, i can tell you this, and your mom must know this, bronson is anti anti anti growth. my mom was on their chamber of commerce for a while before she died, i remember her talking about it.
now good ole boy "ins", that should work for you.

Good ol boy "ins" ????? Please explain sorry

Katrina

meaning that the mayor will probably arrange an exception if you are in the "in" crowd. since he went to school with your mom, he might help figure a way. you know, they will do what they want if they really want to, the heck with you if they don't. i sound cynical, don't i?

No trust me I know the way it goes around there. Can't say much more! Hopefully he's happy with us and maybe we can bribe him with some plants! I don't see how a nursery could hurt bronson, there are TONS of them the plant inspector told me its just none have that location in middle of town....

Katrina

We bought an old house in a "grain elevator town" called Roelyn. It has only 10 houses and is not an incorporated town-thus it is termed a village.
Even there we had to apply with the county for a zone change. We went to the county seat (courthouse) and applied. They put a notice in the paper and also notified adjoining property owners in regard to our request.
A meeting is held where the public can come and protest and then if no one disagrees it passes.
So we have an old house converted to light manufacturing and it sits right next door to a house that is for residential use.
It was just a formality - but even in the "country" there seems to be zoning.
Hope this helps
arlene

So, say a diff nursery owner doesn't want us to be in the middle of town, would that stop the zoning??? I mean if the neighbors were cool with it, but not some other person who thinks it might affect their business, could they stop us???


Katrina

They can come to the meeting and complain but would have to have a good reason to influence them to stop you. It's more like if the property owner next to yours feels you will destroy their quiet enjoyment of their property. For instance - occasionally we have large semi trucks deliver materials to our plant (the converted house) and the next door neighbor is concerned that they will be driving on her property and ruining her lawn or perhaps in backing up hit her well cover. Or perhaps they would feel that you would have so many cars coming and going there would be no street parking left for them. Or the increased traffic you drew to the area would make it dangerous for their children to walk to school. There has to be some good reason to deny your zoning change. Not just someone who doesn't want any competition.
:)

I think I would knock on the doors of the neighbors who would be most likely to be affected, and introduce myself and ask if I could have a moment to discuss this potential business. Sometimes it can make the difference to be on good footing with them. Smile your million dollar smile, assure them you are sensitive to the fact that they might be affected, promise a real plan to minimize any negative effects and ask for their input. Maybe they would welcome it! And do offer to give them things from time to time, as well as helping with advice on what they already have. It doesn't take long to tell someone how to treat a few pests or how to make good soil. I would welcome someone like that near me. Many people would.

Aimee, I think your approach is grand! You get more flies with honey, after all :)

PD, will you move in next door to me????

Our town is hemmed in with tons of zoning restrictions, too.

Hahah Kathy don't think I could take the weather up there I'd freeze! Still no word yet, supposed to hear back by friday before we go through a bunch of steps and My mom knows all the neighbors and is friendly with them, the one one the left is another business, the one on the right is a single guy whose never home, so hopefully they won't mind :)


Katrina