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Council approves first reading to exempt downtown short‑term rentals from parking requirement
Summary
On first reading the council approved an amendment that would exempt downtown short‑term rental units from the one‑parking‑space‑per‑unit requirement; the measure passed unanimously and will be the subject of a public hearing at the second reading.
The City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance amendment to exempt short‑term rental units in the downtown boundary from the requirement that each rental unit provide one parking space.
Councilors described the change as limited to the downtown exemption already used for many commercial properties and said it is meant to address conversions where long‑term housing has been turned into short‑term rentals without available on‑site parking. The measure passed first reading unanimously and the city clerk confirmed a public hearing will be held during the second reading.
Several members of the public urged care in proceeding. Maureen O'Brien, who gave her address to the council, said making an exemption for short‑term rentals could inadvertently incentivize conversions from long‑term housing and recommended the council examine parity between residential and short‑term rental standards before final action.
Councilors said the public hearing will allow more information to be gathered before the second reading and final vote.
