City Discusses Itinerant Merchant, Peddlers Ordinance
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The furniture was being sold outside the Days Inn near the road.
During Monday night’s Warsaw City Council meeting, the council discussed its itinerant merchant and peddler ordinance.
Tim Dombrosky, assistant Warsaw city planner, said last Wednesday through Friday the city received concerns from citizens wondering if the selling of the furniture was appropriate for the zoning.
Monday night, the city discussed the possibility of changing the itinerant merchant and peddler permit to be issued by the building and planning office instead of the clerk-treasurer's office.
This would allow the building and planning office to have more control of the permit process.
Tyler Pequignot, Rock Bottom Furniture, attended Monday’s meeting and expressed his concern with the out-of-state business selling furniture along Center Street.
“I am not looking at restricting business, but I see this as unfair competition when merchandise is lined up on Center Street from an out-of-state business that is advertising prices,” Pequignot said.
City councilman Kyle Babcock said he received concerns about the issue from residents.
“I think something needs to be done to protect our local merchants when furniture is being sold in front of a hotel,” Babcock said. “People pay property taxes and two people have called me who are bent out of shape, and it seems we need to do something about this.”
Council president Joe Thallemer said he felt local businesses should be encouraged to do itinerant sales because they have an investment in the community and are reputable.
Skinner said the ordinance for itinerant merchants and peddlers could be revised.
Proposals could possibly include different fees for different residency for outside and local vendors, separating food vendors from retail sales, requiring displays and products that are more than six feet high to follow building setbacks, and operations over a certain size must be covered or screened.
Skinner said he will work with Mike Valentine, city attorney, to review the city’s itinerant merchant and peddler ordinance and make proposed changes to the ordinance.
The changes will need to be reviewed and approved by Warsaw Plan Commission and Warsaw City Council.[[In-content Ad]]
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The furniture was being sold outside the Days Inn near the road.
During Monday night’s Warsaw City Council meeting, the council discussed its itinerant merchant and peddler ordinance.
Tim Dombrosky, assistant Warsaw city planner, said last Wednesday through Friday the city received concerns from citizens wondering if the selling of the furniture was appropriate for the zoning.
Monday night, the city discussed the possibility of changing the itinerant merchant and peddler permit to be issued by the building and planning office instead of the clerk-treasurer's office.
This would allow the building and planning office to have more control of the permit process.
Tyler Pequignot, Rock Bottom Furniture, attended Monday’s meeting and expressed his concern with the out-of-state business selling furniture along Center Street.
“I am not looking at restricting business, but I see this as unfair competition when merchandise is lined up on Center Street from an out-of-state business that is advertising prices,” Pequignot said.
City councilman Kyle Babcock said he received concerns about the issue from residents.
“I think something needs to be done to protect our local merchants when furniture is being sold in front of a hotel,” Babcock said. “People pay property taxes and two people have called me who are bent out of shape, and it seems we need to do something about this.”
Council president Joe Thallemer said he felt local businesses should be encouraged to do itinerant sales because they have an investment in the community and are reputable.
Skinner said the ordinance for itinerant merchants and peddlers could be revised.
Proposals could possibly include different fees for different residency for outside and local vendors, separating food vendors from retail sales, requiring displays and products that are more than six feet high to follow building setbacks, and operations over a certain size must be covered or screened.
Skinner said he will work with Mike Valentine, city attorney, to review the city’s itinerant merchant and peddler ordinance and make proposed changes to the ordinance.
The changes will need to be reviewed and approved by Warsaw Plan Commission and Warsaw City Council.[[In-content Ad]]
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