Short Term Rental Ordinance Public Hearing
RANDOLPH, Utah. February 1, 2017. Mitch Poulsen, Bear Lake Regional Commission Planning Administrator, said that the planning commission made a few changes to the
proposed short term rental license ordinance which is patterned after the Garden City ordinance.
However the planning commission did not want the county to make short term rentals a conditional use as it is expensive and
complicated. They suggested that if
there were problems they could require it later.
Mayor John Spuhler, Garden City, said, “This industry is
going fast through the nation.
Conditional use permits are cumbersome.
We find that neighbors make emotional comments with little data. Garden
City has been able to mine data to see what the facts are re complaints, water
usage etc. The software we use helps to track data and
keeps residential harmony.”
“For example,” Spuhler continued, “water usage, Garden City
homes were measured. The top 100 water
using homes had lawns and used 46% of water. But looking at homes without lawns, the water
usage difference was about 1000 gallons a month between short term rentals and
single family homes.”
Joey Stocking told commissioners not to require conditional
use permits.
George Peart, County Building Inspector, said that the Beach
Development Zone in the county still requires a conditional use
permit to build upon it because of the uniqueness of the zone. “Some of that zone directly abuts Ag Zones so
those areas need to be considered. “
He said. “A lot of short term rentals will
be in recreation residential zones and as a county it is good we support rentals
but we should also support adjacent land owners who have a use that is not
permitted in those zones. It is a duty
of the county to advise the abutting land owners. There could be short term rentals in Monte
Christo, those renters also need to know there are few emergency services. The county is different than the city And it
is only a one time effort to get a conditional use permit.”
Zack McKee said that a letter sent to neighbors would be
enough notice rather than the cumbersome conditional use permit. George Peart replied that short term rentals
change the nature of the residential area.
Mayor Spuhler thought a letter was a good idea to educate neighbors
about the rules.
Commissioner Norm Weston asked the commission to review this
ordinance for another month.
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