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Jefferson County board approves short-term rental and legalizes lot size, imposes grill ban
Summary
The board approved legalization of a 4.55-acre lot and a short-term rental special exception at 12253 Kester Road with conditions including a prohibition on all grills and open-fire devices and a seven-person overnight occupancy limit tied to septic capacity.
The Jefferson County Board of Adjustment approved two related actions for 12253 Kester Road: a variance to legalize an existing 4.55-acre parcel in agricultural (A1) zoning and a special exception to allow a four-bedroom short-term rental with conditions.
Planner Sarah Hoemeyer summarized staff's findings that the lot modification needed legalization because the parcel's configuration changed after 1972, and that the short-term rental met criteria for special exception (lot size, defensible-space, parking, fire district will-serve and septic capacity). Staff recommended approval with conditions listed in the staff report.
Applicants Austin and Paxton Goodnow told the board they will manage the property directly (with family help), maintain defensible space, forbid open fires and grills, install bear-resistant trash measures, use noise and occupancy monitoring, and limit overnight guests to seven (Jefferson County Public Health guidance tied to septic rating). Neighbors raised wildfire and access concerns, and one neighbor objected to short-term rentals as de facto commercial operations; the applicants agreed to include a grilling ban in house rules as a condition.
The board approved both the lot-legalization variance and the short-term rental special exception on recorded roll-call votes. The special-exception approval includes a condition prohibiting all grills and open fire pits on the property.
