Changes to STR regulations in the works

Walker was also present at the commission’s Oct. 15 meeting, where he took input from the commissioners on what direction they wanted the ordinance to go in. “The idea (of the ordinance) is not to amend the code, but to change the interpretation,” he said at that meeting.

County staff was charged with creating a legislative amendment after a public hearing on the STR issue back in August, where the commission decided to pursue several changes to the STR code:

Walker’s draft resolution reflects those basic points, with the addition of clear definitions and clarifications to reduce ambiguity.

At their October meeting, the commissioners asked that Walker clarify some language, specifically, the definition of resident.

Commissioners also had some questions on language clarifications during the Nov. 19 meeting, and Commissioner Bob Benton said that the wordiness of the ordinance was “excessive.”

“But if it’s going to make Eric (Walker)’s job easier and he’s confident in it, then I default to him,” Benton said.

Walker said that he hopes to get an official Notice of Land Use Hearing (required under Measure 56) issued to residents in December so that a public hearing can be held on Jan. 22.

With the commissioners agreeing that very little changes needed to be made to the current draft ordinance, the commissioners intend to further review the changes in the current ordinance and asked Walker to present again at their regular Dec. 17 meeting.