Soda Springs planners schedule December public hearing on Chapter 17 revisions, debate short-term rental rules

The Soda Springs Planning & Zoning Commission voted Nov. 11 to hold a public hearing in December on proposed revisions to Chapter 17 of the city zoning code that include new definitions for preschools and short-term rentals and wording changes to several definitions.

City Attorney Tom Smith said the packet includes a substituted term of "preschool" where "nursery school" previously appeared and confirmed that he added a short-term rental definition that “links back to the Idaho code.” Chairman Charles Fryar and Vice Chairman Lori Anne Lau discussed the overlap between preschools and daycares and agreed to the change to the daycare definition to explicitly incorporate preschool services.

Vice Chairman Lau asked for the phrase “dwelling” to be inserted before “units” in four definitions; Attorney Smith agreed to make those edits. The commission discussed whether short-term rentals should be regulated similarly to boarding houses or treated like hotels; Attorney Smith noted that the hotel definition explicitly excludes short-term rentals and cautioned the commission against overcomplicating regulations “unless a problem arises.”

Commissioners signaled interest in basic regulatory measures for short-term rentals — including parking and noise restrictions, and possible licensing or conditional-use permitting — but took no final regulatory vote. Attorney Smith recommended a public hearing to allow public input and to reduce the risk of legal challenges from developers; Vice Chairman Lau motioned to schedule the hearing for December, Commissioner Waynet Jo Turner seconded, and “all in favor, and the motion carried.” Clerk Melissa McDowell was asked to email Commissioners Stephen Simmons and Chris Guedes the Chapter 17 revisions.

The public hearing is the next formal step; the commission must consider public comments before finalizing code amendments.