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CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM |
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Department: |
Planning & Development Services |
Commission Meeting Date: Sept. 18, 2018 |
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Staff Contact: |
Jeff Crick, Planning Manager |
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Recommendations/Options/Action Requested: |
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Consider approving a text amendment (TA-18-00079) to Chapter 20: Land Development Code, to establish short-term rental units as a new permitted use and consider adopting on first reading, Ordinance No. 9481. Consider adopting on first reading, Ordinance No. 9560, establishing a licensing and inspection program for short-term rentals. |
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Executive Summary: |
This proposed text amendment was initiated by the City Commission at their February 20th, 2018 meeting to allow short-term rental units in zoning districts where household living is currently a permitted use. This text amendment is based on public input received at an open house meeting (September 26, 2017), a Lawrence Listens survey (September 26, 2017 to October 13, 2017), and based on City Commission’s guidance from their November 14, 2017 work session on this item. As of August 1st, 2018, there are 175 active rentals in Lawrence, nearly 448 cumulative rentals through July of 2018, and approximately 125 active hosts. Since 2014, the number of units listed on Airbnb alone has on average doubled annually.
This text amendment proposes to make short-term rental units an accessory use to the principal household living use when the unit is owner-occupied, and would require the approval of a Special Use Permit by the City Commission when the unit is not owner-occupied.
The proposed changes include updating both the Residential District Use Table (Section 20-402) and Nonresidential Use Table (Section 20-403) to include “Short-Term Rental” as a Transient Accommodation, as well as updating the Off-Street Parking Schedule A (Section 20-902) to require the minimum number of required vehicle parking spaces be 1 parking space per guest room for non-owner occupied short-term rental use.
This text amendment also proposes creating Article 5 use regulations for Short-Term Rental Units. These regulations provide standards and guidance on residency requirements and site-related use standards to ensure compatibility with the areas surrounding the short-term rental uses. These use regulations would require all Short-Term Rental units to comply with the existing occupancy limits established in Chapter 20, Section 20-601(d). A Land Development Code definition for “Short-Term Rental” would also be created in Article 17.
The Planning Commission considered this amendment at their May 23, 2018 meeting and voted unanimously to forward this text amendment to the City Commission with a recommendation for approval.
Ordinance No. 9560 would establish the short-term rental licensing and inspection program. This would create an annually renewed license required for all short-term rentals and establish an annual inspection program for short-term rentals. This program is based on the established long-term rental program. |
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Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor |
Safe, Healthy, and Welcoming Neighborhoods Economic Growth and Security |
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Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source): |
Not Applicable |
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Attachments: |
Ordinance No. 9560 - Updated 09/17/18 Planning Commission Staff Report Short-Term Rental Units Frequently Asked Questions |
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Reviewed By: (for CMO use only) |
☐TM ☒DS ☐CT ☐BM |