Bicknell panel pauses extended-stay ordinance work, flags annexation and code review

The Bicknell Planning Commission agreed to pause detailed work on an extended-stay ordinance for motels and hotels and to reconvene after commissioners have reviewed the draft and relevant state law.

Commissioners said the extended-stay draft — a seven-page proposal that the group has already worked through for definitions — needs more time, particularly in section 3, which contains substantive rules. Chair members raised concerns about the Sunpro property being for sale and the potential for an older motel to convert to long-term, nontransient housing. "We do not want it to turn into low income housing and people starting living in it and creating meth and burning it down," one commissioner said, citing examples the group had discussed from other towns.

The panel discussed legal and practical thresholds: under state law, the group noted, a nontransient rental is defined as a room or dwelling rented for more than 30 days. Commissioners also flagged transient-room tax implications if lodging is used exclusively for short-term rentals, and noted town code must align with recent state annexation rules. The commission asked Brock (staff) to compare the town's annexation ordinance to state law and to report back; they also recommended members review the town annexation map so the commission can be prepared if the county or a developer seeks annexation for an industrial park or related services.

Members discussed examples in other towns where aging hotels began to function as longer-term housing, strained municipal services, and in one cited case led to a structure fire and litigation. Commissioners agreed to take the next month to read the extended-stay draft and submit comments so the panel can return with fresh focus and more detailed edits.

No formal vote was taken on the extended-stay ordinance at this meeting; the item was deferred for additional review.