New zoning regulations in Neosho will, in all probability, get one step closer to reality as the city council considers a reworked ordinance draft Tuesday evening on the next to last reading.

City staff have made several modifications since the last council meeting, where the ordinance was approved on first reading. Should the document pass on Tuesday, provided there aren’t any new objections raised by council members, a final vote will be taken on Jan. 6.

Most of the concerns voiced by residents about the proposed ordinance, which would overhaul Chapter 405 of city code, have been answered in the new draft.

Church leaders had questioned wording that stated one 50 square foot church ground sign, with 16 square foot lettering, would be allowed. Now, an addition has been made that places church signs under the same rules as ground signs, which provide for one sign per each public street fronting the lot, with the exception of identification signs. According to city planner Kim Messer, most church signs would not count as identification signs, which by definition only include name and address.

No more than one home-based business would be permitted per residence. All home occupations would need to be registered with the city, for free, by filling out a questionnaire upon passage of the ordinance, or be considered in violation. At that time, some home-based businesses, such as catering, cabinet building or carpentry shops and photo studios, would also require a special use permit.

Other home occupations, such as auto mechanics, auto body or paintwork, and kennels, wouldn’t be allowed at all in residential neighborhoods. Also prohibited would be any wholesale or retail business “unless it is conducted entirely by mail or by occasional home invitation and does not involve either the shipment of resale of merchandise on the premises.”

Questions had been raised about the distinction between a home occupation and a hobby. Indications by city officials suggested that everything be registered, “just in case,” but that, unless there are complaints, selling personal handiwork, such as refinished furniture, from time to time shouldn’t be an issue and would, in practical terms, fly under the radar.

Further prohibitions, among others, under the home occupation section include steady customer traffic (not more than three per day), any alteration of the structure related to the home business, and the display of “goods, stock in trade or other commodities” in plain sight.

Under proposed new signage regulations, not allowed would be signs on parked vehicles advertising a product or directing people “to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property.” This would not include vehicle or personal property “for sale” signs or permanent lettering or magnetic signs on vehicles.

In the same section, businesses would be limited to three temporary advertising signs at any given time throughout town. Window signs would, as per the revised draft, be allowed without size restrictions. Flashing strobe lights or revolving signs would be “expressly prohibited.”

Residential fences and shrubs in Neosho could not be over eight feet high. Fencing could not be built within six feet of an existing structure on an adjacent lot, exclusive of side lots. Fences in residential districts could not be made of chicken wire, barbed wire, hardware cloth, hog wire or similar materials.

In commercial districts, razor or barbed wire could be strung atop fences provided the bottom strand is at least seven feet from the ground if the sharp wire extends outward and six feet above the ground if it extends inward.

All fencing already existing in any zoning district would be grandfathered in, but altering it would require a building permit.

Other provisions buried within the proposed ordinance — which is now at 151 pages — would outline the number of parking spaces required for new or altered development of any structure or business, establish new zoning districts, modify existing zoning districts and create new requirements regarding sidewalks and bicycle paths, site plan reviews, building permits, adult orientated businesses, animals, landscaping, housing projects, wind turbines and more.

To view the proposed changes to Chapter 405, go to the city’s Website www.neoshomo.org and click on “Final Draft Zoning Changes 2008” on the right side of the page under “Quick Links.”

To see a paper copy of the draft, stop by the Neosho Daily News office, 1006 W. Harmony St.

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Also on Tuesday, the council is scheduled to:

• Consider bids for grant appraisal services, city electrical services, a city handyman, plumbing, HVAC services and mechanical and plumbing work on the new public works building;

• Declare, on first reading, certain personal property as surplus;

• Consider, on first reading, authorizing the execution of a supplemental agreement for highway and rail crossing improvements;

• Consider, on first reading, an amendment to last fiscal year’s budget;

• Consider a bill adopting a comprehensive plan for the city of Neosho;

• Receive presentation of  an annexation petition submitted by the trustees of the Church of Christ (which church not specified);

• Consider a contract with the Neosho R-5 School District for a school resource officer;

• Consider a maintenance agreement with Blue Valley Public Safety for the Neosho Outdoor Warning Siren System;

• Consider a change order with AOS for phone system upgrade;

• Consider a maintenance agreement with BIO-key International for software maintenance;

• Consider authorization of payment for the Quince Road sewer project.

• Announce vacancies that exist on the city board of appeals.

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The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the city hall council chambers, 203 E. Main. Anyone wishing to speak before the council needs to contact city clerk Audrey Covey at 451-8050 or in person any time before the meeting.