Neighbors oppose Morris rezoning in Centennial; commissioners debate enforcement, short‑term rentals and neighborhood character

The Albany County Planning & Zoning Commission on Aug. 13 voted to recommend denial of a zoning‑district amendment requested by Keith and Renee Morris that would have changed a roughly 4.08‑acre parcel in Centennial from Rancho/rural residential to Small Lot Residential so a second dwelling on the parcel would be permitted.

Renee Morris, an applicant and co‑owner of Mountain Valley Gate Getaway LLC, told the commission the structure began life as a permitted garage built after permit application in 2015 and that living quarters were later added. Morris said the addition was an oversight in permitting and that the owners moved quickly to engage planning staff after a June notice; a planning packet in the public record shows an enforcement file open since 2019 that referenced a wastewater complaint.

Neighbor Michelle Tilly and other Centennial residents spoke during the public hearing and submitted written comments opposing rezoning. Tilly said the garage was constructed with finished plumbing and a full kitchen and had been advertised on short‑term rental platforms beginning in 2016; she and other residents said the neighborhood deeds and covenants call for single‑residence parcels and that approving the rezoning would amount to a spot rezoning that would alter long‑standing neighborhood character.

Several commissioners said they found the Morris case difficult. Planning staff described the property as about 4.08 acres and said the county’s wastewater engineer had confirmed the system was sized for the structure as built; staff said the parcel was subject to an open enforcement matter because an additional dwelling had been established without appropriate zoning approval. Commissioners debated options: pursue enforcement (abatement, fines, or court action) or approve a zoning change to resolve the ongoing enforcement case. County Attorney Matt Ayers advised that deed restrictions and covenants are private contractual matters the county cannot directly enforce, though they may be relevant when evaluating compatibility under zoning findings.

Public commenters and several commissioners flagged short‑term rentals as a broader policy issue. Neighbors said they have experienced increased traffic, higher occupancy at times and a change in neighborhood character tied to the property’s rental history. Commissioners discussed that the county’s land‑use table already lists bed‑and‑breakfast as a conditional use in some zones, but that “short‑term rental” is not explicitly regulated in the Albany County zoning resolution; staff said other jurisdictions have reached differing conclusions and that enforcement is frequently resource intensive.

After extended discussion the commission voted to recommend denial of the Morris rezoning, instructing staff to prepare denial findings tied to the Albany County comprehensive plan and to document compatibility concerns raised in public comment. Commissioners asked staff to include the enforcement record and relevant wastewater and building‑permit documentation in the packet the Board of County Commissioners will receive.

Why it matters: The decision affects one Centennial property immediately and raises broader questions about how the county handles accessory dwellings, enforcement of zoning rules and the degree to which short‑term rentals alter rural neighborhood character. Commissioners also flagged the need for clearer rules or a local study of short‑term rental policy, enforcement costs and potential local options (for example, overlay rules or conditional use requirements) if the county wants to regulate such uses.

Next steps: Staff will prepare findings of fact and conclusions of law to accompany the denial recommendation and forward the packet to the Board of County Commissioners for final action. The commission asked staff to report back with any legal or practical options for addressing short‑term rentals and to summarize what peer jurisdictions do.