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Record of Proceedings

Planning Commission Recommends Approval of Major Home Occupation Conditional Use – February 17, 2026

Planning Commission — Tuesday, February 17, 2026

BodyMilford, Delaware

SessionPlanning Commission

DateTuesday, February 17, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 27:20

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:00

Planning commission meeting to order.

0:04

First order of business public comment period.

Speaker 2

0:10

Good evening, Chairman.

0:11

Um this is the public comment period before the planning commission for the city of Milford.

0:17

City has set aside 15 minutes for public comment.

0:20

We allow three minutes per person.

0:21

If the chairman feels it's appropriate, he can extend that time.

0:25

Anyone who has wished to speak should have signed up on the comment pad.

0:28

We will also check with anyone online.

0:31

When your name is called, please come to the podium, give your name, address, and the topic which you want to speak.

0:37

Um there it does to uh does appear that there's one person on the sign-up sheet, but she's on the agenda, so we'll wait, ma'am, if that's okay for you.

0:48

Okay.

0:49

No, no, no.

0:50

You're fine, ma'am.

0:51

So I don't see anyone else who has signed up.

0:53

I don't know if there's anyone online.

Unassigned speaker

0:56

Uh

Speaker 2

0:57

there's nobody online.

0:59

With that said, you can close the public comment period.

Speaker 1

1:03

Yeah, we'll close the public comment period and move on.

1:05

So everyone please stand for the pledge of allegiance.

Unassigned speaker

1:20

Uh

Speaker 2

1:27

thank

Unassigned speaker

1:28

you.

Speaker 1

1:30

Roll call.

1:31

I'm showing four members present, three absent.

1:39

We have a quorum.

1:42

Approval of minutes.

1:43

No minutes in the packet, right?

1:49

We'll move on to public hearings.

1:51

See you wanna turn over to the solicitor for the public hearing.

Speaker 2

1:56

Thank you, Chairman.

1:57

Tonight there's one application for a public hearing.

2:00

I'm going to review the procedure to be followed for each of the hearings.

2:03

When the planning commission holds a public hearing on a zoning application, they act as a fact-finding body in the legislative process to assist the city council in making this decision.

Unassigned speaker

2:13

The

Speaker 2

2:13

planning commission will make a recommendation to city council to approve or deny the application.

2:18

City council will then hold its own hearing, but will consider the planning commission's recommendation.

2:24

Um for this application, the city council uh will hold a hearing in the future.

2:30

Uh city council will make its own independent decision.

2:34

Milford in its zoning and land use decision decisions does not discriminate against persons based on race, color, religion, natural national origin, disability, familiar status, sex greed, demerital status, age, or sex oriented sexual orientation.

2:50

Public comments made on the basis of bias and stereotape concerning people within these protected classes will not be taken in consideration by the planning commission in its deliberations.

3:01

After each application has been announced, planning director Rob Pierce will review with the commission the pending application.

3:08

The applicant and any witnesses it may have will then be called upon to present and explain the application with reasons supporting its approval.

3:17

The commission members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the applicant or witnesses regarding the facts and merits.

3:23

We ask

Unassigned speaker

3:26

we

Speaker 2

3:26

ask that the applicant limit the presentation to 15 minutes, though leeway will be given if it is a detailed and complicated manner.

3:35

After the applicant's uh presentation, persons who oppose the application will be given an opportunity to speak, filed by anyone who have may have comments in general.

3:45

We ask anyone speaking at those times to limit their comments to three minutes.

3:49

Again, commission members may ask questions regarding the facts and merits supporting the comments.

3:54

There will be no rebuttal by the applicant and the public hearing will be closed unless the commission wants answers from any speaker on a question that arises during the hearing.

4:03

Further, the applicant will not be allowed to question persons who speak in opposition, and persons who speak in opposition will not be allowed to question the applicant or its witnesses.

4:12

All questions will be directed to me or the chairman who will be conducting the public hearing.

4:18

If you intend to speak, please come to the front and stand at the podium, state your name and home address before you make your statement.

4:26

Again, uh speak loud enough so everyone can hear you.

4:29

If you represent or speak for a group or organization, please identify whom you represent.

4:35

When you make your statement, please be concise and do not repeat yourself.

4:39

If there is more than one witness for the applicant or more than one person in opposition, please do not repeat points that the prior speaker has already stated.

4:47

However, you may make a statement to support another speaker's comment.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Planning and Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████62%

Procedural██████████████████25%

Code Enforcement█████████13%

Summary of Proceedings

Planning Commission Recommends Approval of Major Home Occupation Conditional Use – February 17, 2026

The Milford Planning Commission held a public hearing on February 17, 2026, to consider a conditional use application (CU231-2025) for a major home occupation at 206 North Walnut Street. The applicant, Amy Profetti, seeks to operate Stone & Sage Holistic Healing Center, a wellness business, within a portion of an existing single-family home. The commission voted 4-0 to recommend approval to City Council, subject to conditions in the staff report and resolution of administrative issues.

Consent Calendar

Approval of minutes: No minutes were available in the packet, so this item was skipped.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public provided comments during the designated 15-minute public comment period. No online attendees signed up to speak.

Discussion Items

The public hearing was opened for application CU231-2025. Planning Director Rob Pierce presented the staff report, detailing that the property is zoned R2 and was previously a pediatric office. The applicant converted approximately 1,388 square feet (28% of total floor area) into a wellness center without first obtaining the required conditional use approval, leading to a notice of violation in September 2025.
The Board of Adjustment had previously granted five variances: allowing up to three non-resident employees/subcontractors, up to four clients at any one time, accessory sales of ceremonial instruments and wellness-related items, and signage height (though sign height was limited to 4 feet, not the 5 feet currently installed). The Board of Adjustment denied a request for increased sign height.
Staff evaluated the application against Chapter 230-9 and Chapter 230-48 criteria. Parking on-site (eight spaces identified) was deemed sufficient by staff, though a commissioner expressed concern about setting a precedent for unpaved parking. The applicant stated the business operates Tuesday–Friday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.–3 p.m., with classes (up to two hours) held after closing, including sound baths, Reiki circles, tarot classes, and women's groups.
Commissioners asked about ADA compliance, building permits, and a certificate of occupancy (CO). Pierce clarified that the applicant must obtain a CO from the building code official, including approval from the state fire marshal and plumbing code compliance. The applicant was advised not to operate until the CO is issued.
No public comment in favor or opposition was received during the hearing.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval subject to conditions in the staff report and resolution of administrative issues. Commissioner Persell cited consistency with conditional use standards and compatibility with surrounding uses. Commissioner Redden noted the historical use of the building and granted variances. Commissioner Sylvester recommended approval based on variances but expressed concern about continued operation without a CO. Commissioner Wright based his vote on evaluation of Chapter 230-48 criteria and requested respect for neighboring properties.

Key Outcomes

The Planning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend City Council approve the conditional use application for the major home occupation. The recommendation carries conditions from the staff report and requires the applicant to cease operations until a certificate of occupancy is obtained.
The public hearing was closed. No other business was discussed, and the meeting adjourned.
The next public hearing before City Council is scheduled for March 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (the ordinance will be introduced on February 23, 2026).

Meeting Transcript

Planning commission meeting to order. First order of business public comment period. Good evening, Chairman. Um this is the public comment period before the planning commission for the city of Milford. City has set aside 15 minutes for public comment. We allow three minutes per person. If the chairman feels it's appropriate, he can extend that time. Anyone who has wished to speak should have signed up on the comment pad. We will also check with anyone online. When your name is called, please come to the podium, give your name, address, and the topic which you want to speak. Um there it does to uh does appear that there's one person on the sign-up sheet, but she's on the agenda, so we'll wait, ma'am, if that's okay for you. Okay. No, no, no. You're fine, ma'am. So I don't see anyone else who has signed up. I don't know if there's anyone online. Uh there's nobody online. With that said, you can close the public comment period. Yeah, we'll close the public comment period and move on. So everyone please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Uh thank you. Roll call. I'm showing four members present, three absent. We have a quorum. Approval of minutes. No minutes in the packet, right? We'll move on to public hearings. See you wanna turn over to the solicitor for the public hearing. Thank you, Chairman. Tonight there's one application for a public hearing. I'm going to review the procedure to be followed for each of the hearings. When the planning commission holds a public hearing on a zoning application, they act as a fact-finding body in the legislative process to assist the city council in making this decision. The planning commission will make a recommendation to city council to approve or deny the application. City council will then hold its own hearing, but will consider the planning commission's recommendation. Um for this application, the city council uh will hold a hearing in the future. Uh city council will make its own independent decision. Milford in its zoning and land use decision decisions does not discriminate against persons based on race, color, religion, natural national origin, disability, familiar status, sex greed, demerital status, age, or sex oriented sexual orientation. Public comments made on the basis of bias and stereotape concerning people within these protected classes will not be taken in consideration by the planning commission in its deliberations. After each application has been announced, planning director Rob Pierce will review with the commission the pending application. The applicant and any witnesses it may have will then be called upon to present and explain the application with reasons supporting its approval. The commission members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the applicant or witnesses regarding the facts and merits. We ask we ask that the applicant limit the presentation to 15 minutes, though leeway will be given if it is a detailed and complicated manner. After the applicant's uh presentation, persons who oppose the application will be given an opportunity to speak, filed by anyone who have may have comments in general. We ask anyone speaking at those times to limit their comments to three minutes.

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