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Zoning appeals for two short-term rental properties deferred as city reviews STR rules
Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals deferred two appeals from property owners at 200 Stewart Street and 623 Crestland Drive after planning staff asked for delays while short-term rental (STR) rules are revised. Neighbors attended to express concerns about neighborhood impacts.
The Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Columbia voted unanimously to defer two pending appeals of administrative decisions concerning short-term rental (STR) use at 200 Stewart Street and 623 Crestland Drive, saying staff requested the delay while the city considers changes to STR rules.
Planning staff told the board that changes to the city’s STR provisions are under consideration and that the planning commission recommended modifications to the rules at its recent meeting. Planning staff asked the board to defer action on the appeals “because there are unknowns out there, pertaining to the STR provisions that may change,” according to planning staff.
The deferrals affect appeals filed by Bruce Peden. Peden said he had discussed the staff request before the meeting and told the board he “had no objection to deferring it” and would prefer the city attorney be present because “it's a lot of legal questions involved.”
The request to defer followed a planning commission recommendation to send revised STR language to the City Council. Planning staff told the board the commission recommended continuing to allow STRs in the City 4, City 4C, City 5 and City 5C character districts and removing one limited standard that required owner occupancy; staff emphasized that the recommendation "would not permit short term rentals" in City 2, City 3 and City 3L districts, where the two appealed properties are located, and that the recommendation is subject to change at council.
Neighbors attended the meeting to ask questions and register concerns. Bobby Richardson, who said he recently bought 621 Crestland, told the board he wanted to “make sure I'm in a... safe, quiet place,” saying he spent “60 years saving for my home.” Brenda Fertley, another neighbor, said she was “here to give her good support” and that residents want to “keep our neighborhood a neighborhood.”
Board members held two separate roll-call votes to defer the appeals. In both votes, members recorded aye votes from Mr. Abels, Mr. Campbell, Miss Martin and Mr. Dugger; each motion carried.
Planning staff told the public the related STR provisions would be discussed at tonight’s City Council meeting, which is open to the public and streamed online, and that council materials are available on the city’s public portal.
The appeals will be returned to the board after the city’s rulemaking process and any resulting changes to the STR ordinance are finalized or otherwise resolved.
