Planning Commission July 21, 2022

Detailed briefing

Planning Commission — July 21, 2022 ATTENDEES: Rick Tarczynski, Vanessa Warren, Emily Dubé, Bob Thoma, George Peet, Bill Mulder, and Mark Boudet were present; Barry Lustgarten and Al Daika were absent. • The commission approved the June 16 meeting minutes by voice vote. The chair's wording referred to approving the “agenda,” but the agenda item and motion concerned the June minutes. • Commissioners adopted a work plan for a comprehensive zoning-code rewrite. The city planner said the current ordinance has overlapping and hard-to-find provisions, including parking rules in multiple locations. The proposed format would reorganize the code, use more tables and diagrams, and eventually support hyperlinks online. • The zoning rewrite is expected to take about two to two-and-a-half years, depending on other commission business. The commission will review sections over time, but the old code remains in force until a complete new code is approved by the commission and adopted by City Council. Staff said Council could receive interim discussion updates without formally adopting sections one at a time. • Staff presented a list and map of licensed short-term rentals. The list showed 81 licensed properties, with possible minor mapping corrections. Staff said it was also pursuing licensing for roughly five properties believed to be operating without licenses. The planner will overlay licenses with zoning districts to identify where rentals are located. • The short-term-rental discussion drew extensive public and commissioner comment. Concerns included density in residential neighborhoods, noise and garbage issues, absentee owners, housing costs and long-term-rental availability, and the loss of year-round neighborhood presence. Others stressed private-property rights, the role of tourism, and the need for straightforward rules that property buyers can understand. • No short-term-rental rule was adopted. The commission discussed restrictions in residential areas rather than commercial or mixed-use areas, and indicated support for staff to explore a 45-license residential cap. It also discussed possible preference for city residents, allocation methods, and limiting an owner to two short-term rentals. Staff said it would bring possible structures back for review. Worth watching: • Whether staff's zoning-overlay map changes the understanding of short-term-rental concentration in residential districts. • Whether a 45-license residential limit, ownership cap, residency preference, or allocation system is formally proposed. • How the city addresses reported unlicensed rentals and clarifies license treatment when a property changes ownership. Upcoming: Staff expects to return next month with short-term-rental options for commission review. Why it matters: The city is weighing neighborhood stability, housing access, property rights, visitor lodging, and the practical ability to administer any new rental restrictions.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.