The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners on June 23 approved an administrative special review allowing a short‑term rental at 4710 Swainsona Drive in Loveland, subject to conditions meant to limit impacts on adjacent Lake Knowles Recreation Area. The board voted 3–0 to approve the Mead short term rental (file 23Zone3497) after hearing staff analysis, the applicant and multiple neighbors who cited trespass and liability concerns.

Staff presented the application as a pre‑June 1, 2023 short‑term rental submittal that was reviewed under the Land Use Code provisions that applied before new county STR regulations took effect June 1. Samantha Mott, senior planner with Community Development, told commissioners the applicant originally requested an occupancy of eight (three bedrooms plus an extra sleeping area) but subsequently revised the request to cap occupancy at six guests, two per bedroom; staff adjusted its recommended conditions accordingly. Mott said the planning manager referred the application to the Board because neighbor comments left uncertainty on two specific review criteria (identified in staff materials as review criteria 1 and 2) and community members had submitted comments attached to the staff packet.

The applicant, Karen Mead, told the board the property is her primary residence and she planned to operate it only part of the year (she later said roughly three months total, living in the home nine months of the year). Mead said the short‑term rental income would be used to make cosmetic improvements to the house and that she intends to screen renters and enforce operations rules. She proposed an operations manual and a renter agreement that ask renters not to access the adjacent recreation parcels and to follow trash and parking rules.

Neighbors and representatives of the Lake Knowles Recreation Area said the property sits adjacent to small access parcels and an easement used by the recreation area and that short‑term renters could be more likely to trespass on the recreation property to reach the shoreline. Lori Daskolori (identifying herself as president of Lake Knowles Recreation Area) said a locked gate exists at the street entrance but there is no fence separating the recreation parcels from Mead’s property and that shoreline in the area has unstable banks. Brad Sutton, a nearby resident, described past problems at lake access points when strangers were able to reach the shoreline and said the neighborhood had previously litigated and adjusted access as a result. Those speakers urged denial based on increased liability and enforcement difficulties.

Mead proposed operational mitigations in response: a clear statement in the operations manual that there is no usable access to the recreation area from the property, a signed renter acknowledgement forbidding trespass, a prominent “no trespassing / no lake access” sign on the property line, limits on trash and parking and a three‑night minimum stay. The applicant also told commissioners she would limit the number of vehicles associated with a rental to four, and that the designated property manager lives about 18 miles away in Longmont.

Commissioners discussed additional conditions suggested during the hearing. Commissioner Jody Shattuck McNally proposed limiting total rental days to 90 days per year and adding on‑site signage that emphasizes there is no public lake access and warnings about wildlife (elk and nesting raptors were mentioned by commissioners). County staff confirmed that, if approved, standard conditions require mailing the designated property manager’s contact information to surrounding property owners within 500 feet and upon any change of manager. Commissioners and staff also discussed that Poudre Fire Authority / Loveland Fire Protection (noting fire district rules) had asked for an emergency escape plan; the applicant agreed to coordinate with the fire district on a safe secondary egress point if needed.

The board’s conditions, which the motion incorporated and staff will finalize in the findings and resolution, included: approval subject to the standard packet conditions as modified to reflect the reduced occupancy (maximum six guests), a property‑manager contact requirement and notification of neighbors within 500 feet, a maximum number of vehicles, on‑site signage stating “No Lake Access / No Trespassing,” requirements on trash handling, a minimum stay (three nights), and additional language emphasizing wildlife safety and emergency egress coordination with the fire district. The board voted 3–0 to approve the administrative special review and the chair authorized staff to finalize the findings and resolution and conditions.

The decision applies to the current application as presented; commissioners noted future changes (for example, a different use or an increase in intensity) would require separate review and approval under Larimer County code. The board took no action beyond approval with the listed conditions and left enforcement and follow‑up to the county’s standard short‑term rental compliance processes and the specified conditions of approval.

Mead and several neighbors were present during the hearing; the board recessed for five minutes after the vote before proceeding to the next agenda item.