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Planning commission forwards permit to convert upstairs of historic theater into short‑term rental
Summary
The Bicknell Planning and Zoning Commission voted July 15 to approve plans to convert the upstairs of the downtown theater into a nightly short‑term rental and forward the building permit to the town council for final approval. The applicant said the rental will help keep the theatre solvent.
Curtis Allred, an applicant under contract to purchase the town’s historic downtown theater, told the Planning and Zoning Commission on July 15 that the venue “is dying” and has run at a deficit for two years. He asked the commission to approve plans to convert the theater’s upstairs — about 1,200 square feet — into a nightly short‑term rental (an Airbnb) to generate revenue for the main theater.
Allred said the upstairs conversion will include a bathroom and kitchenette, an east‑side exterior entrance with stairs and crash‑bar egress, and a master bedroom with windows. He told the commission he has met with plumbers and the health department, which raised no septic concerns; Allred said the short‑term rental would reduce septic demand because the upstairs would host at most six to eight guests compared with the existing 60‑seat capacity when used as a screening room. He also said the main theater would remain open during construction and that guests would be sound‑isolated from performances below.
The commission discussed occupancy and parking constraints, and staff explained the short‑term rental permit process. Allred said he expects to close on the building in mid‑August and asked to be placed on the town council agenda; staff confirmed the council meets August 7 and that the inspector (Eric Torgerson) will review the commission’s packet before council consideration.
"I am under contract to purchase this building," Allred said, and described the conversion as a way "to offset the cost for the main theater and help to ensure that it stays open for many years to come." The commission asked practical questions about bathrooms, egress, parking and fire‑code occupancy; Allred provided specifics about plumbing locations and said the upstairs will be soundproofed.
Commission member Jim Donaldson moved to approve the building permit and forward the plans to the town council; the motion was seconded and the commission recorded aye votes and approved the forwarding. The inspector will review the plans and the item will appear on the town council’s August 7 agenda for final action.
Next steps: the applicant will finalize construction drawings and the short‑term rental application for the town; the inspector will review, and the council will take final action at its August meeting.
