Council grants home-office conditional-use permit for insurance agent at 1708 Ferry Street

The City Council voted to grant a conditional-use permit allowing an insurance agent establishment to operate from a residential dwelling at 1708 Ferry Street under home-occupation rules.

The applicant, Maribel Salazar, sought permission to operate an insurance agent office from a property zoned R-3 (duplex). Planning staff said the property is a 5,640-square-foot residential dwelling at the intersection of Ferry and Comal streets; the surrounding area is predominantly single-family with some duplex zoning. Staff explained home-occupation rules require the business to preserve residential aesthetics, limit signage and avoid activities that would significantly increase vehicle frequency or unduly inconvenience neighbors. Staff noted the sign limit is restricted (commonly 2 by 3 feet and a single sign for home-occupation uses) and that the department recommended granting the permit subject to compliance with home-occupation provisions.

Maribel Salazar spoke during the public hearing, saying about 90% of her business is home visits and that most clients are elderly and do not drive. She said clients typically come by appointment, “one customer at a time,” and asked for extended hours to accommodate appointments after 4 p.m. The applicant said she has worked 30 years at DLC adult daycare and that in-person visits would be occasional.

Staff told the commission that 25 notices were mailed; none were received in favor, three letters were received in opposition, and two notices were undeliverable. One neighbor submitted a concern specifically about traffic generation. Staff suggested the council could add conditions such as limiting the number of customers at a time if desired; the council voted to grant the permit, and the transcript records the motion to grant the department recommendation. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote or any explicit additional conditions beyond compliance with home-occupation requirements.