Planning commission recommends shrinking transient rental overlay after neighbors’ complaints

The Midway City Planning Commission on Monday recommended that the city council approve a zone map amendment to reduce the boundaries of the city’s transient rental overlay district, a staff‑driven effort staff said would limit new short‑term rental applications in seven identified areas.

Staff presented maps and told commissioners that 152 property owners were notified about the proposed removal but that only three licensed short‑term rental units currently exist in the targeted areas and three additional applications are pending. “There are 3 licensed right now in the trod, and there are 3 more pending applications,” staff said. Staff described the change as a way to curb neighborhood disruptions and protect long‑term housing while having a minimal effect on resort‑tax revenue.

Residents who live adjacent to the affected areas urged the commission to act. Jim Becker, a resident who said he regularly files complaints about noise and parking, asked whether grandfathering of existing rentals is mandatory; staff replied that grandfathering is required by state and local law and cannot be withdrawn. Jolene Agnes, whose street borders a hamlet, described heavy weekend traffic and said she once counted “15 cars on our street” during a weekend and fears unregulated short‑term guests. Camille Palmer, representing Midway Village, said her neighborhood’s CC&Rs currently prohibit overnight rentals and expressed support for removal to protect close‑spaced lots and limited parking.

After the public hearing a commissioner moved to recommend the zone‑map amendment using staff findings; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The recommendation will go to the city council for final action.

The staff record and packet accompanying the item include the mapping of the seven areas proposed for removal and a summary of public notices sent to affected property owners.