Peoria is considering a change to the city code that would govern home-based free distribution of food, clothing and other household items.
Debbi La Rue, the city’s planning and zoning manager, said the proposed amendment applies to porch pantries and other similar operations, and would fill a regulatory gap regarding concerns over public health and safety.
“It provides standards regulating the types of items that can be distributed, and then the size, design, number and placement of containers used for storage or display of those items,” said La Rue.
“The standards are intended to address food safety concerns, ensure compatibility with the residential character of these districts, and then also prevent nuisances.”
The Peoria City Council received and filed a first reading of the proposal last week, with a formal vote expected at a regular meeting next month.
The ordinance would not require any permits or city review, as long as the homeowner meets the standards. If an operator seeks to exceed the standards, they could request a special use allowance.
“Wherever possible, our goal is to design rules with a light touch,” said La Rue. “We want our zoning regulations to be narrowly construed to address concerns of nuisance, public health, etc., without limiting innocuous activities.”
She said the issue arose out of concern over the types of food being distributed at these pantries and how it is being stored.
“It needs to be a certain height off of the ground — that’s the health department’s recommendation — to prevent rodents from accessing the foods,” said La Rue.
“There is also a case that has come before community development in different manner, in which somebody was doing this great good for the community. But there was some nuisance concerns with neighbors as it relates to litter — with folks coming in, accessing the pantry during off hours in the middle of the night.
“What they were doing was exceeding what we would typically want for a residential neighborhood.”
In response to a question from Mayor Rita Ali, La Rue noted the ordinance would not apply to “commercial activity,” such as garage sales or lemonade stands.
“This language is really just sort of meant to provide some regulations and standards for instances in which someone is providing goods for free to the general public,” said La Rue.
La Rue said the city currently is aware of one existing operation that would exceed the standards and need to seek the special use permission. She said enforcement of the updated code likely would consist of contacting an operator when they’re not adhering to the regulations.
“Unless it’s something that’s egregious, we typically issue a letter notifying them that they’re out of compliance, and then we would direct them how to go through a special use process and become legal,” she said.
