Natchitoches planning commission approves rezoning for short-term rental at 1041 Washington Street

The Natchitoches Planning & Zoning Commission voted to approve a rezoning request from Walter L. Darr that would allow a short-term rental at 1041 Washington Street.

The commission approved the application after staff described the submission as a routine short‑term rental application that met the office—s documentation and parking requirements. Chair (Speaker 1) said the parcel is shown as Track 2A on a plat dated Sept. 8, 2021, by surveyor Robert Lynn Davis, recorded in map slide 834B of the records of Natchitoches Parish, and measures about 0.438 acres. Planning staff confirmed the property lies within the city historic district but outside the local Landmark District.

Kathy Richmond, speaking for Walter Darr, told the commission the house is a second home currently for sale and that the owners, who live in Texas, want the option to rent it on short‑term platforms when they are not using it. "He is—they have it as a second home, and it—is for sale right now. But he would like to go ahead and have it approved for short term rental because he—you know, they live in Texas and wanna put it on Airbnb," Richmond said. She added she had not received feedback or opposition from neighbors.

A commissioner moved to approve the rezoning to R‑1 special exception to operate a short‑term rental; another commissioner seconded. The commission conducted a voice vote and the chair called for those in favor to say "aye." Members answered "aye" and no opposition was recorded in the transcript. The chair reminded those present that the city council will take up the rezoning introduction on Nov. 10 (introduction only, with no public discussion anticipated) and is scheduled to consider final passage on Nov. 24; the chair encouraged the applicant or a designee to attend the Nov. 10 session in case members of the public attend then.

Commissioners then shifted to a broader discussion about short‑term rental policy after the action. Staff and multiple commissioners noted that a similar application on Saint Maurice Lane had generated more vocal public comment and that the council had recently denied another short‑term rental application. Planning staff said the council—s concern had been about opening areas close to the local historic district to short‑term rentals. Commissioners said they conducted their review under existing standards and expressed differing perspectives on whether short‑term rentals help maintain properties or encourage conversions of single‑family housing.

The meeting also included an extended discussion about tiny‑home policy and lot‑size constraints. Staff reminded the commission that the local minimum lot size is 7,200 square feet and that many older neighborhoods contain substandard post‑World War II lots (roughly 5,200—5,500 sq ft). Several commissioners suggested the commission draft restrictions that would disallow tiny homes in established neighborhoods, identify suitable locations for tiny homes, and emphasize that each tiny‑home application will receive individual review.

The chair closed the item and the meeting adjourned. The commission did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript; the approval is recorded as a voice vote with no opposition noted in the meeting record.

Next procedural step: the city council is scheduled to receive the rezoning introduction on Nov. 10 and consider final passage on Nov. 24; the applicant or a representative was advised to attend the Nov. 10 introduction.