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Prospective buyer asks Bicknell planning commission to clear theater upstairs conversion for nightly rental; panel forwards permit to town council
Summary
Curtis Allred, who is under contract to buy the town’s historic movie theater, told the Bicknell Planning and Zoning Commission on July 15 that the theater has run a deficit and asked for approval of plans to convert the upstairs (about 1,200 sq ft) into a short‑term rental to help preserve the main theater; the commission approved the building plans and will forward the permit to the town council for final consideration.
Curtis Allred, the prospective purchaser of Bicknell’s historic movie theater, told the Planning and Zoning Commission on July 15 that the venue has been operating at a loss and that the current owner has signaled he may close the business. Allred said he is under contract to buy the building and proposed converting the upstairs — about 1,200 square feet — into a short‑term rental to offset operating costs and keep the main theater open.
Allred described plans to add a bathroom and a small kitchenette to the upper level and to use the theater room upstairs as a family‑oriented rental space with a private small screening area. “I am under contract to purchase this building,” Allred told the commission, adding that health‑department staff had raised no concerns about septic capacity and that the planned rental would likely accommodate “maybe 6” people, with a possible maximum of eight.
The commission’s questions focused on septic capacity, ingress and egress, parking, fire‑code occupancy and how the short‑term‑rental permit process would interact with town licensing. The applicant said there is an existing outside entrance on the east side that will become the main entrance to the rental, a crash bar on the door for code‑compliant egress, and parking located behind the building. He said the main theater operation would not close during renovations.
After discussion, Commissioner Jim Donaldson moved to approve the building permit and forward it to the town council for final approval; a fellow member seconded the motion and the commission carried it by voice vote. The commission clerk said the council will consider the item at its August 7 meeting and that the building inspector, Eric Torgerson, will review the plans before they go to council.
The commission’s approval covers the presented building plans and forwarding the application to the town council for final action; the town council will issue the short‑term‑rental permit if it chooses to approve the application after inspection and any additional conditions.
The Commission set no new conditions in the motion beyond the normal inspection and town permitting steps; Allred said he expects to close on the purchase next month and to keep the theater operating during winter construction. The town council is expected to consider the application at its August 7 meeting.
