The Jefferson County Board of Adjustment on June 25, 2025, approved a one-year renewal of a special-exception permit allowing a three-bedroom short-term rental at 6197 High Drive in Morrison.

Staff recommended approval, and the five-member board voted unanimously to grant the special exception subject to the conditions in the staff report, including a one-year permit term, a maximum occupancy of six people, display of the permit number in all advertisements, monthly submission of advertisements to Planning and Zoning, and use of hauled water only for the property’s hot tub.

Jamie Hardig, a planner with Jefferson County Planning and Zoning, opened the staff presentation for case 25-108417VC and summarized the county’s short-term rental (STR) criteria. Hardig said the 1.89-acre, A‑2 zoned parcel meets the lot-size and building‑standards requirements, provides six parking spaces where four are required, holds a septic permit rated for three bedrooms, and has a defensible-space permit issued on 06/19/2024 that expires three years later. Hardig also noted a will‑serve letter from the local fire protection entity and that staff had received five public comments opposed to the renewal but found the STR criteria satisfied and recommended approval.

The applicant, Sean Marach, who identified himself as the property owner, told the board he has operated short-term rentals in the mountain area for years and described measures he said he uses to limit neighborhood impacts: vetting guests, posted house rules and reminders about fire restrictions, a noise monitor set below county thresholds, plans for trash and snow removal, and payment for hauled water for the hot tub. Marach said he replaced the well pump in February 2019 and provided documentation. He acknowledged one neighbor dispute over a pile of branches left after tree removal and said he cleaned the material within 24 hours and exchanged emails and photos with the neighbor.

Board members asked whether any formal complaints or police calls had been made about the Morrison property; planning staff said none were on record. During deliberations, Board member Johnson said the board reviews public comments but is constrained by the county’s existing rules and focuses on documented, property‑specific complaints. Board member Klein moved to adopt the resolution finding the request meets the zoning resolution’s STR criteria; the motion was seconded by Board member Porter and passed on a unanimous roll call.

The approval includes standard STR conditions from the staff report: the applicant must obtain the short-term rental permit within 30 days; the permit term is one year (through 06/25/2026); maximum occupancy is six people (two per bedroom); the permit number must appear on advertising; the applicant must send Planning and Zoning copies of advertisements monthly for occupancy verification; house rules may not be made less restrictive than those approved; only hauled/purchased water may be used for the hot tub; and guests must be notified of any fire restrictions issued by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

The board also invited public engagement on a countywide draft of STR rules that staff said was in its final‑draft phase.

Documentation and testimony in the official record include the staff report, the applicant’s written materials and photos, five public comments (one from an adjacent neighbor describing the branch/cleanup dispute), the defensible-space permit (06/19/2024), and the will‑serve letter from the local fire protection entity.