The Austin City Council will vote next month on an ordinance to begin issuing interim use permits, which would give entrepreneurs a chance to start a business without making a large investment.

An interim use permit is a land use planning tool that would be useful in unique situations, such as the La Surena Cooperative, which is located within city limits at the community garden.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Holly Wallace said the permit would allow such things as urban agriculture or start-up businesses.

“We also have some entrepreneurs who would like to use some existing commercial kitchens or other infrastructure that’s available in the city that maybe they are just trying to get on their feet or develop a market without having to go into a specifically zoned area or make an investment for their entrepreneurial efforts,” Wallace said.

The interim use permit’s purpose is to allow some uses with it, where it won’t have any adverse impacts and wouldn’t be in that location past five years and if there’s any violations, the permit would be terminated, Wallace said.

Wallace said the city does have conditional use permits; however, that permit is more strict than an interim use permit would be.

“The planning commission discussed that this permit is written a little more broadly,” Wallace said.

A summary of the ordinance:

It will be reviewed like a conditional use permit, but instead, the planning commission will make a recommendation to the council to approve or deny and they will make the final decision.

The use will terminate before any adverse impacts are felt upon adjacent properties.

The use will terminate at a specific date and not exceed five years.

The use will not add additional cost to the public, if it is necessary for the public to take the property in the future, and the property owner will provide adequate assurance the property will be left in suitable condition when the use is terminated.

The property owner must agree to any additional conditions the council deems appropriate to grant permission for the use.

The use will terminate on the date stated in the permit or violation of the conditions, whichever is first.