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Council Exhibit C <br />MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Tuesday, February 16, 2016 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />6. #15-3759 CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT, SHORT-TERM VACATION <br />RENTALS, 9:20 P.M. — 9:46 P.M. <br />Barnhart noted at its February 3 workshop, the Planning Commission heard from seven property owners <br />commenting on the proposed vacation rental ordinance. Those seven property owners are among the 12 <br />vacation rental owners identified by Staff after searching through the various vacation rental websites. <br />Most of the comments received respected the need for regulation, with the owners indicating that they are <br />more protective with their own home and property than the City would be, but they did not want overly <br />restrictive regulations. They also did not support a total ban on vacation rentals. <br />Staff has prepared a basic draft ordinance. There was some discussion at the workshop about removing <br />certain criteria included in the draft ordinance. Barnhart noted the draft ordinance has not been modified <br />and that he would like to hear some more input from the Planning Commission tonight. At the workshop <br />Barnhart stated he heard from the Planning Commission that there should be some regulation, such as a <br />license, but not a prohibition. The draft resolution includes 15 criteria and Staff report includes an <br />analysis of that criteria. <br />Barnhart noted language that appears elsewhere in the Code is in italics and can be removed if the <br />Planning Commission feels it is redundant. <br />Barnhart stated he would like to get some more feedback from the Planning Commission tonight and then <br />move it forward to the City Council. <br />Lemke asked if he received any rental agreements. <br />Barnhart indicated he did not. <br />Lemke asked if the draft ordinance was set at a minimum of three nights. <br />Barnhart noted some people at the workshop felt a maximum was more appropriate and some felt that <br />three was too much of a minimum. Staff feels three is appropriate since most people will rent the home <br />for a long weekend. Barnhart stated the issue is with one group of people renting it for one night and <br />another group the next night. Barnhart stated requiring a minimum of three nights helps to respect the <br />neighborhood. <br />Thiesse stated in his view three nights are a little too much and that some of these will be weekend <br />rentals, which is only two nights. <br />Landgraver indicated he is in agreement with Commissioner Thiesse. <br />Schoenzeit stated to his knowledge the City has yet to, hear from one person who has been the victim of <br />the noise and has only received one complaint that was actually from the homeowner. Schoenzeit noted <br />the City has no actual documented abuse cases and that they chose to do nothing about the rooster lady <br />due to the low volume of complaints. Schoenzeit stated in his view this is an ordinance in search of a <br />problem that does not exist. <br />Landgraver noted there is a letter in the packet from a resident that says they are against rentals. <br />Page 1 of 5 <br />