Wayland City officials are working on an ordinance that would handle licenses for outdoor vendors.
The City Council had the first reading of a proposed ordinance Monday night after the Planning Commission received requests from two different sellers of fireworks who want to set up shop at the Harding’s Market parking lot and the Cars2Go lot.
Jake’s Fireworks has been selling fireworks out of a tent near Harding’s for the past three years. Now Phantom Fireworks also is asking for permission at sell at Cars2Go.
Janis Johnson, planning consultant from Wade Trim of Grand Rapids, told the Planning Commission April 14 the purpose of such an ordinance would be “to avoid hazards and unsafe conditions,” but she added it could affect the sales of other outdoor items such as Christmas trees.
“We need to streamline the rules,” she said. “This (ordinance) could be tweaked a number of ways to suit you.”
Gary Ragan, secretary of the Planning Commission, said, “”I like this, the way it’s set up. It tells you what you have to do (to get an outdoor vendor’s license).”
It’s not likely an outdoor vendor’s license will apply to the city-wide garage sales.
The measure has become more important in recent years because the State Legislature passed a law permitting sales and use of fireworks, so outdoor vendors have been proliferating.
The City Council will have the second reading of the proposed ordinance next month.
