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Woodland Park council approves rezoning of 309 Willow Street to allow nonprimary short‑term rental
Summary
After a quasi‑judicial hearing and a 5‑0 vote, the Woodland Park City Council rezoned 309 Willow Street from urban residential to central business district so the owners may operate a nonprimary short‑term rental in compliance with recent short‑term rental code changes.
The Woodland Park City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 2 to rezone 309 Willow Street (Lot 1, Block 12, Foster’s Addition) from urban residential to Central Business District, clearing the way for the owners to operate the property as a nonprimary short‑term rental.
Planning staff presented the application and noted the owners have rented the property short term since purchasing it in February 2006 but that recent city ordinances restrict nonprimary short‑term rentals to commercial zones. Planner CJ told council the application was referred to agencies with no comments and that the Planning Commission recommended approval 5–1 after its Aug. 28 public hearing.
Applicant Elizabeth Wirtz, who said she and her husband Rob have owned the property for about 20 years, told the council the home has been used quietly and without complaint. “We want to continue hosting guests,” she said, describing the house as a two‑bedroom, two‑bath home that supports local businesses in the nearby commercial area.
Council members questioned staff about alternatives such as the neighborhood commercial (NC) zone and the risk of “spot zoning.” CJ and a planning representative explained the recommendation for CBD relied on the property’s contiguity to existing CBD parcels on two sides; town staff said a NC designation would have been spot zoning because no adjacent NC parcels exist at this block. Planning staff also noted that any future commercial redevelopment would require site‑plan review and other code checks.
Resident Mindy, who spoke during the public comment period, asked whether approving the rezoning would set a precedent for other urban residential parcels. Planning staff and the planning director emphasized that future applications would be considered on their own merits and that approval here was specific to this property’s context.
After deliberation, council voted 5–0 (Mayor Case and four council members present; Mayor Pro Temneke absent) to approve Ordinance 15‑03, rezoning the property to Central Business District. Council members and staff emphasized the decision was made under quasi‑judicial standards and urged that future rezoning requests be judged individually.
The rezoning will allow the owners to bring the property into compliance with the city’s short‑term rental rules for nonprimary residences; any future change of use or redevelopment would be subject to applicable site‑plan, building, and administrative reviews.
