Commission approves large Hamilton Cove villa for short-term rental over neighbor objections (4-1)

The planning commission approved a transient rental license and coastal development permit for a seven-bedroom, eight-bath villa at 204 Marta Cortez (Resolution PC-25-51) after commissioners and neighbors debated occupancy and deck-related nuisance concerns.

Staff said the residence is approximately 7,457 square feet with a standard maximum occupancy of 16 based on bedroom count and noted three letters of opposition were received prior to the hearing. The property owner, Les Blake, said the top-floor suite would remain his residence and offered to accept a lower occupancy restriction if the commission found that necessary: "If you wanted to do, like, a restriction on how many people could be in the house... we'd be willing to do that," he said.

Neighbors and commissioners expressed concern about 16-person occupancy and the potential for noise from multiple exterior decks; staff pointed to standard conditions restricting unenclosed balcony use between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. The commission discussed enforcement (on-island manager and possible performance-based permits) and then voted. The clerk recorded 4 yes votes and 1 no (Commissioner Brown), so the resolution passed 4–1. The approval carries standard TRL conditions and any additional conditions the commission adopted on the record.