Resident urges new rules for short-term rentals, including landscape plans to protect rural character

During public comment, Ken Johnson asked the Page County Planning Commission to consider new approaches to regulating short-term rentals, saying the county’s existing rules were drafted for locally owned operations and not for properties used as investment vehicles by national short-term rental firms.

Johnson referenced a letter from Heidi and Matt Cahill in the meeting packet and argued that today’s short-term rental business model prioritizes minimizing costs and maximizing returns rather than long-term neighborhood stewardship. He suggested the county could require acreage minimums, setback distances, or site-line restrictions, and proposed that the commission consider requiring a landscape architect to prepare screening plans as part of SUP reviews for short-term rentals in rural neighborhoods to address visual and sound privacy, preserve rural character, and reduce wildfire spread.

The commission acknowledged the concern and logged the comments into the record; staff and commissioners noted that any regulatory changes would require ordinance amendments and public process, and that their existing SUP conditions can be tailored to address impacts on neighboring properties.

Ken Johnson returned during the open citizen-comment period to reiterate that a professionally prepared landscape plan might be a reasonable option to mitigate impacts and to protect rural neighborhoods as short-term rental activity increases.