Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Short Term Rentals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission recommends limited short‑term rentals in Winchester’s core business district
Summary
The Winchester Planning Commission voted to recommend a text amendment (TA‑26‑1) that would allow one dwelling unit per multifamily or mixed‑use property in the primary and secondary special taxation districts to operate as a short‑term rental, a change applicants say brings existing illegal units into compliance while commissioners flagged enforcement and housing‑stock concerns.
The Winchester Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of TA‑26‑1, a zoning text amendment that would permit one dwelling unit per multifamily or mixed‑use property in the city’s primary and secondary special taxation assessment districts to be used as a traditional short‑term rental or home share.
Staff explained the current ordinance limits short‑term rental use to single‑family homes and individually platted townhouses and excludes multifamily or mixed‑use buildings. The amendment would allow a single unit per property within the identified assessment districts to operate as a short‑term rental while leaving the application, inspection and enforcement process unchanged, staff said.
The applicant, identified in the packet as Paul Richardson, told the commission his project is a small unit above a downtown business and noted recent state law changes allow lessees as well as owners to operate short‑term rentals. “The state changed the rules to open up more opportunities for building owners,” the applicant said, and the amendment was drafted narrowly to limit the change to districts the comprehensive plan explicitly calls out for visitors and commerce.
Commissioners were divided. Commissioner Mayfield and others said they were concerned about enforcement and the potential for short‑term rentals to reduce permanent housing downtown. “I do think we would have benefited from a work session to have this discussion,” Mayfield said, citing the difficulty of policing multiple owners in a single building and the risk of short‑term rentals displacing long‑term tenants.
Other commissioners expressed support if the city maintains strong enforcement. Commissioner Bloom said restricting use to one unit per building would allay many fears and could help local merchants by increasing tourism. Several commissioners noted the change could also bring currently unregistered units into compliance, easing enforcement pathways.
The commission passed the recommendation to send TA‑26‑1 to city council for consideration. The recommendation does not change inspection requirements or enforcement powers; staff indicated enforcement responsibilities remain with city code enforcement and that any additional compliance approaches would be developed administratively.
The council will now consider the amendment at its public hearings; the planning commission did not adopt additional conditions beyond its recommendation.
