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Commission approves short‑term rental permit for 209 Equestrian Drive despite neighbor objections
Summary
The commission approved a specific‑use permit to allow a short‑term rental at 209 Equestrian Drive, finding the property meets off‑street parking requirements; multiple neighbors voiced concerns about parking, neighborhood character and distance to the emergency contact.
The Waxahachie Planning and Zoning Commission approved a specific‑use permit allowing a short‑term rental at 209 Equestrian Drive after a staff presentation and public comment. Staff said the three‑bedroom house has approximately 1,696 square feet, the property has two off‑street parking spaces (staff noted a maximum of three is available but the applicant limits use to two), and an emergency contact is listed at about 10.2 miles away.
Caleb, presenting the staff report, told commissioners that staff had mailed 63 notices to property owners within 500 feet of the house and had received four letters of opposition. He also said the Waxahachie Police Department had no nuisance calls related to the address in the past 12 months. Neighbors raised concerns about on‑street parking, emergency‑vehicle access and neighborhood character.
Chance Robeson, a nearby resident, said he was opposed and warned that short‑term rentals “have never proven to be anything but a call for local resources for public nuisances,” citing worries about parties, noise and loss of neighborhood cohesion. Another neighbor, Paul Quake, asked for clarity about how short‑term rentals are defined (staff explained that under state code short‑term rentals are less than 30 days) and requested a copy of house rules and information about management arrangements. The applicant’s proxy, Kathleen Butler, said the unit will be owner‑managed (not by a third‑party manager) and that the owners contract landscaping and cleaning between guests; she also said they are working with the Ellis County Appraisal District to remove an incorrectly rolled‑over homestead exemption.
After discussion, a motion to approve staff conditions and to authorize execution of documents by the city manager and mayor was seconded and carried by voice/hand‑raise vote. The approved permit allows the owner‑managed short‑term rental to operate under the conditions outlined in the staff report.
