Planning Commission tables rezone request for West Evergreen property amid short-term rental questions

The Durant Planning Commission voted 5-0 to table a request to rezone 1224 West Evergreen after staff and commissioners said city zoning and the city’s defined central business district (CBD) limit where short-term rentals are allowed.

Planning staff told the commission the applicant had asked to rezone the corner lot to allow residential use and short-term rentals but that "the short term use or short short term rental or Airbnb is actually allowed only in r 3, not in the central business district," and that the CBD boundary is defined in city ordinance and would require a city council ordinance change to alter.

The applicant, Lisa Schussler, told the commission she has owned the property since about 2001 and has struggled to lease it commercially. "We got about 80 calls wanting residential. We got about 4 calls wanting commercial," Schussler said,…