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Board approves Airbnb at 319 Central with six-guest limit amid parking, access disputes
Summary
Timothy Waters was granted a one-year conditional-use permit to operate a short-term rental at 319 Central Avenue with a maximum of six guests and enforcement of submitted house rules; the board cited parking constraints and entered a neighbor's letter into the record about a private sidewalk and no-parking area.
Timothy Waters, owner-applicant for the property at 319 Central Avenue, told the Madison Board of Zoning Appeals he plans “to make some minor renovations to the property, and then use it as a as an Airbnb.”
The board approved a conditional-use permit for one year, with the house rules provided with the application to be enforced and a maximum of six guests. The board’s action followed staff concerns about parking and comments from a neighbor whose written statement was entered into the public record.
Planning staff flagged parking as the primary issue, noting Central Avenue has “virtually no parking” and warning that guests might use a city parking lot that staff said is private and reserved for city employees. Staff recommended limiting occupancy to six people; board members noted the property is a three-bedroom house and discussed a common rule of two people per bedroom. Waters said he could include a maximum-car provision in the house rules and that he maintains local contacts who can respond to issues within about an hour.
A letter from neighbor Mary Ann Imes was accepted into the record and read aloud; staff summarized the concerns: the application’s house rules originally allowed up to 10 guests, while staff recommended a maximum of six because of parking; the letter also requested that house rules identify a private sidewalk and an adjacent garage space as “no parking” and urged that guests be informed the sidewalk is private property.
Waters said he had been told by the previous owner that an easement existed for access to stairs at the rear of the property but acknowledged uncertainty and said any boundary dispute would need a survey. The board noted that resolving property-boundary or easement disputes was beyond the board’s authority.
A board member moved to approve the conditional use for one year with the provided house rules and a maximum of six guests; another member seconded the motion. Roll-call votes by Mark Acosta, Carl Egeland, Rick Ferris, Nancy Burkhart and Scott Baldwin were recorded as “yes,” and the motion passed.
The board emphasized that the one-year permit allows staff and neighbors to monitor parking and access impacts and reminded the applicant to include clear rules about parking and private access in guest communications.
