Planning commission forwards revised extended‑stay lodging ordinance to town council

The Bicknell Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 19 voted to forward a revised extended‑stay lodging ordinance to the town council with the commission's recommended edits after detailed discussion of the ordinance's definitions and exceptions.

Commission members spent substantial time debating the ordinance language that limits stays in transient and extended‑stay lodging. The central point was how to phrase the 60‑day rule so that permanent residents are not unintentionally barred from using motels or rooms following a temporary displacement, for example by fire. As one commissioner suggested, changing the wording from "person" to "guest" would tie the restriction to the lodging definitions in the ordinance rather than to all town residents.

Commissioners settled on language that reads in substance: "The use of extended stay rooms shall be limited to extended‑stay or transient guests. No guest in Bicknell Town for a period of 60 days or longer in any 180‑day period shall occupy a room in a transient or extended‑stay lodging facility." Commissioners said this formulation better aligns with the definitions earlier in the ordinance and retains a necessary distinction between permanent residents and lodging guests.

The commission also agreed that an extended‑stay license form should be created so town staff and council have a standardized application for licensing extended‑stay operations. Brock, who attended the meeting to review legislative changes and best practices, agreed to send sample ideas for the licensing form.

After further minor formatting edits and resolving internal cross‑references, a commissioner moved to pass the ordinance with the commission's recommendation to town council. The motion passed on a unanimous voice/roll‑call vote.

The commission asked staff to correct the ordinance numbering and to bring a finalized packet to the town council for its Sept. 4 meeting.