Perry City Council approves short‑term rental rules and fee schedule; tables Olsen Orchard; adopts multifamily density amendment

Perry City Council on Jan. 9 recorded several formal actions: the council appointed planning commission leadership, adopted an amendment affecting multifamily density and mapping (Ordinance 24H), approved new short‑term rental regulations (Ordinance 24K), adopted a comprehensive fee‑schedule update (Ordinance 24L), approved routine consent items, and tabled the Olsen Orchard development agreement pending additional information.

Votes at a glance

- Planning commission leadership (item 3A): Council approved the 2025 planning commission chair and vice‑chair appointments by roll call; the motion carried unanimously. The planning commission will have Ryan Vaughn as chair and Paul White as vice chair for 2025. Council recorded an affirmative roll call and indicated the motion carried without opposition.

- Ordinance 24H (multifamily density map / subdivision code amendment): Council adopted ordinance 24H, which clarifies height measurement and limits multifamily dwellings outside commercial zones to 30 feet and adjusts how height is measured for structures within the neighborhood commercial zone adjacent to Highway 89. The council’s roll call produced recorded yes and no votes; the motion passed and the ordinance was approved.

- Ordinance 24K (short‑term rentals): The council unanimously adopted short‑term rental regulations establishing a short‑term rental definition (rental term under 30 days), prohibiting rentals in campers, trailers or tents, limiting one short‑term rental per property, and requiring a business license for short‑term rentals. The ordinance also clarified that accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are not permitted to be used as short‑term rentals.

- Ordinance 24L (fee schedule update): The council unanimously approved updates to the city fee schedule. Key changes include charging per‑square‑foot fees for cutting newer asphalt, a fee and deposit framework for hydrant meters, updates to field/reservation fees (including a $5/hr practice fee and a $20/game day fee for athletic fields), and administrative clarifications for digital records and USB provision. Council also approved minor adjustments to facility reservation deposit handling.

- Consent items: The council approved routine consent‑agenda minutes and items as presented, with only minor typographical corrections requested during the meeting.

What the ordinances change

Ordinance 24H revises the municipal code’s height‑measurement language and narrows where taller multifamily can be sited in proximity to the highway. City staff said the measure is intended to reduce the visual impact of continuous three‑story walls next to single‑family neighborhoods and to create clearer measurement rules near Highway 89.

Ordinance 24K establishes a local permitting and licensing approach for short‑term rentals: rentals under 30 days are allowed in approved residences but not in recreational vehicles, tents or accessory dwelling units, one short‑term rental per property is allowed, and operators must hold a business license. Council members asked staff to add clarifying language to ensure single‑home, multi‑room short‑term sublets are covered by the one‑rental limit.

Ordinance 24L updates fee language across departments to reflect contemporary practice (digital copies, USB handling, policing fees, public‑works inspection fees) and to add or refine a handful of operational charges; staff said the schedule is intended to better recover routine costs and to provide clearer processes for deposits, facility rentals, and field maintenance charges.

Meeting context and next steps

Several measures passed unanimously; the multifamily density amendment produced recorded dissenting votes from some council members but was adopted. The Olsen Orchard development agreement and zone‑change — a substantial, project‑level decision — was tabled after council members requested further architectural, landscaping and access clarifications. Staff will return the Olsen Orchard item at the next regular council meeting after the developer provides the requested details and staff obtains UDOT input on Highway 89 access options.

The council also scheduled a council retreat for January 25 to discuss longer‑range planning items; staff will solicit agenda topics from council members by email.