Cape Coral City Council is expected to make a decision Wednesday on an ordinance that would set guidelines for home-based businesses.

This will be the second and final public hearing on this topic. The ordinance tracks recently passed state legislation that allows various types of businesses to operate within single-family homes.

Home-based businesses would need to follow several new guidelines such as number of employees allowed to work at the home (two); parking of vehicles used for the business, which will be limited to the driveway or other legal parking spaces; signs; and restrictions on noise, odor, and hazardous materials, which must meet standards from the city or state.

The city planning staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission recommend approval.

In other business:

* Council is expected to decide on the rezoning of two parcels on Burnt Store Road from Single-Family Residential (R1) to Commercial (C).

The first is for a 12.5-acre piece of property along Burnt Store Road. The rezone would allow for a wide range of commercial/office/retail/ restaurant and would allow for development of a large property along a commercial corridor.

The second is for an 18-acre parcel that abuts the first one. The parcels would allow for the development of a large-scale shopping center such as a supermarket or a shopping center, and not a strip mall.

This rezone mirrors a recently adopted Future Land Use Amendment that changed the property from Single-Family Residential to Commercial.

The city has a well-documented need for commercial development. The rezone of these two parcels will add commercial land at a commercial node. Nearest non-residential development is more than two miles to the south.

* Council is expected to decide whether to repeal the 500 kilowatthour exemption for residential electricity for purposes of charging a 7 percent Public Service Tax (PST).

The change raise an additional $2.6 million to subsidize the Cape Coral Charter School system. The impact on residents would be about $26.76 per meter annually, according to the staff presentation.

The PST may also be expanded to metered natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas either metered or bottled, and manufactured gas either metered or bottled.

* Council is expected to decide whether to change the name of the Community Development department to the Development Services Department.

* Council will consider positions on a number of committees and boards throughout the city. There will be a do-over in selecting members of the seven-member Districting Commission after there were not enough qualified candidates who applied for the board.

The city advertised to seek more applicants and got 14 of them to apply for one position per district.

The council will also select three new members to the Planning & Zoning Commission (two members and an alternate) and fill a vacancy on the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.

Wednesday’s Council meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.

All meetings are open to the public.