After a holiday season in which Christmas tree lots were about as common as they are in July, city planners are studying a revision to existing rules that would make it easier for such outdoor sales to occur.
The Special Review Committee of the St. Charles Plan Commission instructed the plan staff to draft an ordinance amendment to be presented in a public hearing next month.
Planner Dan Olson said the city generally requires about 90 days for the review process in approving a special permit for outdoor seasonal sale items, such as spring plants, pumpkins and yuletide evergreens.
“People came in and applied (for Christmas tree lot permits) in October, but by the time the permit would have been granted the holidays would have been over,” Olson said.
The proposed revision speeds up the review process and defines what seasonal outdoor sales are permitted. It also grants a provision for grocery and other chain stores to hold outdoor tent and sidewalk sales in their parking lots.
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