MICHELLE J spoke thusly to: DICK ROEBELT
MJ>MJ> In regards to zoning regulations: I would like to know what 
MJ>city-state you are in and what your regulation looks like. 
   Down in St. Pete., Florida (Pinellas County) and I live in the 
county.  St. Pete is merely a mail address.
MJ> I do a lot of work in Minneapolis trying to educate City 
MJ>Planners about homebased businesses. Have you had bad experiences 
MJ>with Zoning?
   No "bad" experiences with zoning.  Just some of the dickhead zone 
officers. 
   A few years ago the whole neighborhood had a nasty dispute.  
Everyone ratted everyone else out.  Had the zoning folks here along 
with code enforcement/inspection, etc.  And, heck, I didn't get 
involved till some liar said I called on a neighbor.
   Ran them all off.  Told them the next time I see them set one foot 
on my property they had better have a warrant (very hard to get) and 
bring along a deputy for their personal protection.
   Haven't seen them back yet.  There is, however, nothing to stop 
them from observing from the public rights of way.  But they left 
after a few choice words when I decided to take the dogs out for some 
exercise.  And being very territorial, those 2 shepherds (police 
trained) saw to it that those folks stayed off-property.
MJ> In Minneapolis, there is no policing done by the City...it is 
MJ>all done by neighbors. If a neighbor should complain about 
MJ>something, then the City would send out an inspector. 
   That's about the way it is here.  In some neighboring cities the 
code-enforcement officers do sweeps.  But they are generally looking 
for building that are non-conforming or that or not up to code.
MJ> All in all, I have recently been quite pleased at how 
MJ>interested the City is regarding homebased businesses and 
MJ>economic development...they seem to not want to hinder the 
MJ>development of homebased businesses, knowing that we are a vital 
MJ>part of any community, city, state economic development. They 
MJ>seem to take us seriously, but I will know a great deal more 
MJ>when I see a draft of the rewrite.
   The only thing most cities or townships care about is a residential 
business generating traffic.  Neighbors hate that.
   Had one inspector ask me how I do business.  Told him I visit my 
clients at their home or place of business.  He then asked about 
supplies.  Told him I pick them up or sometimes UPS delivers.  He told 
me "no more UPS deliveries as that generates traffic."  Told him that 
he didn't have the authority to make such a statement, nor his bosses 
or their bosses (the commission) - only the Congress may regulate 
interstate commerce.
   Of course he was too stupid to look around and see hundreds of 
signs on the walls advertising almost every incumbent politician at 
the state and county level from the general area and 2/3 of all the 
sitting judges in both the county and circuit court.
   Don't think his complaint (should he have chose to write one) would 
have gone too far. 
   Dick
Freedom: It gets the government out of your life and pocket.
* CMPQwk 1.42 84 *
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