03-14-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, March 14, 2016 7:00 o'clock p.m. 12. #16-3807 ESTATE DEVELOPMENT GROUP ON BEHALF OF SCOTT FREDRIKSEN, 425 AND 595 OLD CRYSTAL BAY ROAD NORTH, AND PID 33-118-23-24-0002, REZONING TO RESIDENTIAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, PRELIMINARY PLAT AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT (continued) Gonyea stated if the Dumas family would like to see some additional screening, they would be happy to do that. Gonyea stated if the Dumas family would also want to keep the driveway there, that is not a problem, but that he would suggest not putting any trees where the road could be extended someday. Walsh moved, Printup seconded, Application No. 16-3807, Estate Development Group on behalf of Scott Fredriksen, 425 and 594 Old Crystal Bay Road North and PID 33-118-23-24-0002, directing Staff to draft approval resolutions for a comprehensive plan amendment and preliminary plat approval, subject to Staff recommendations. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. 13. #15-3759 CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT: SHORT-TERM (VACATION) RENTALS ORDINANCE Barnhart stated the Planning Commission has reviewed the text amendment intended to address the growing issue of short-term rentals. In most communities larger than Orono, the issue has been centered on taxing the motel and hotel industry as well as a safety aspect in terms of people renting houses that may not be suitable for rental. Barnhart stated Orono has not necessarily encountered those issues, but last summer the Council directed Staff to review potential changes to the ordinance. Last summer Staff sent out letters to property owners letting them know that the City is aware they are renting their homes out, and while they are not currently regulated, to remember that they are in a residential neighborhood and they should be aware of the impacts to the neighbors. Barnhart indicated the letter seemed to work. Staff identified approximately 12 properties that are being rented out. The City received some comments from neighbors stating that different homes were being rented out but it turned out that those people actually live there but just have a different lifestyle than what most people might be used to. The Planning Commission held a listening session in February and learned that some of the people who rent their homes out are simply renting a room. The Planning Commission also learned that those folks are stricter than what the draft ordinance was drafted to be. The Planning Commission took that into consideration and ramped down the draft ordinance. One of the earlier drafts prohibited short-term rentals less than 30 days and the initial version had 20 different criteria associated with the rentals. At the last Planning Commission meeting, they indicated that they do not want to add on to the City's already existing regulations and did not feel the City has to add more noise regulations since the City already has a noise ordinance as well as a parking ordinance that would address some of the concerns. The draft ordinance that is before the Council tonight requires a license that has approximately six different criteria that are intended to identify who is renting the property and then inform the City so the City can respond more quickly to complaints. Barnhart noted the City has not received a lot of feedback during this process and no requests have been made that it be prohibited outright. Page 25 of 37