Council refers short-term rental zoning amendment to Planning Commission

The City Council voted to refer a proposed zoning code amendment that would identify short-term rentals as a permitted use to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation.

Council members and staff said the Planning Commission has a statutory role in reviewing proposed ordinances and that the commission’s recommendation would inform any later council public hearing. A staff speaker recommended the referral, saying, “Plan commission has its statutory role in reviewing any proposed ordinances. So I'd recommend tonight doing a referral of that specific amendment to the planning commission.”

Councilmember Mark moved the referral; Councilmember Shannon seconded the motion. The council adopted the referral by voice vote. After the vote, the presiding official recorded, “Anyone opposed? Motion carried.”

Staff told council the Planning Commission meets next Monday and that a recommendation could be produced at that meeting, though the schedule could shift: the staff speaker said the amendment “could go to planning commission, and then the two could merge” and that the matter was likely to be back for discussion at a March work session and then a public hearing in April. The speaker noted those dates as possibilities rather than fixed deadlines.

What happens next is review and recommendation by the Planning Commission; the council will schedule any subsequent public hearing(s) after receiving that recommendation. The referral does not itself change the zoning code or allow short-term rentals; it only sends the proposed amendment to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation.