Planning Commission

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON Thursday 7:00 PM March 1, 2018 City Council Chambers Video Recorded www.cob.org Call to Order / Roll Call Present: Ali Taysi (Chair), Mike Estes (Vice Chair), Garrett O'Brien (Commissioner), Phyllis McKee (Commissioner), Steve Crooks (Commissioner), Iris Maute-Gibson (Commissioner), Lisa Anderson (Commissioner) Approval of Minutes There were no minutes submitted for approval. Public Comment Period Opportunity for citizens to speak informally to the Planning Commissioners on any subject not listed on the agenda. Speakers are allowed a MAXIMUM of three (3) minutes to address the Commission. Speakers will not be required to disclose their address. No testimony given. PUBLIC HEARING A draft ordinance to amend various chapters in Title 20 of the Bellingham Municipal Code for the purpose of regulating short-term rentals. STAFF PRESENTATION Lisa Pool presented a brief overview on the proposed short-term rental ordinance. She provided information on some local statistics and shared some community concerns. She summarized the approach the ordinance will take on the short-term rental regulations. She also reviewed the draft standards that short-term rentals would be required to adhere to. PUBLIC COMMENT Tony Ickes spoke to his personal experience with a short-term rental in another state. He acknowledged the challenges that come along with the short-term rentals and stated that many of those are addressed through the regulations in the ordinance. He spoke to the economic value of having short-term rentals in the community, as well as the streams of revenue to the City. He commended the Commission and the staff for the work being done on the ordinance. Dick Conoboy noted that this was presented on the agenda page as a work session. He stated that by allowing short-term rentals, housing that is needed for our local residents is being given away to vacationers. He stated that if there is an ordinance at all, it should ban short-term rentals entirely in the city. He mentioned the other housing related items that have come, or will come, before the Commission and pointed out that a SEPA determination of non-significance may be accurate for each one independently; however, if the cumulative environmental impacts were considered, the SEPA determination might be different. Galen Herz stated that everyone should have the opportunity to live in a safe, healthy and affordable home. He urged the Commission to ban whole house short-term rentals in all residential zones until Bellingham realizes a healthy vacancy rate of 6% or more. He stated that the low vacancy rate has caused rents to increase to the point of pricing many residents out of town. He stated that units that could be used for short-term rentals are desperately needed for housing during this crisis. Chris Hemingson encouraged the Commission to keep the rules simple and easy to understand. He spoke to his personal experience with the Conditional Use Permit process. He noted that the 90 day limit will be hard to enforce. He also shared a personal experience with his short-term rental. Aaron Booker commented on his personal experiences with owning a short-term rental. He urged the Commission to talk with short-term rental owners. Jennifer Dolese spoke to her personal experiences with owning a short-term rental. She commented on the rating system through the sites and on the guests she has had stay in her D-ADU. She acknowledged the housing issues and commented on the lack of planning from previous years. She stated that diversity is important and expressed her support for short-term rentals. Tom Dolese shared his personal experience with owning a short-term rental. He noted that many are using this option as a way to remain in their home. He expressed his support for short-term rentals and appropriate regulation. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS / QUESTIONS The public hearing was closed, but the written record was left open for 10 business days. The following items were discussed:  If bed and breakfast facilities are currently allowed in multi-family zones, will short-term rentals be allowed in the same manner.  There was a question related to the effectiveness on banning short-term rentals.  How does the city plan to incentivize and educate the community on the short-term rental ordinance, so that participants do not assume that the rules on the Airbnb site are all they need to be aware of?  There was a request made to receive comment from the Lake Whatcom Watershed Advisory Board regarding short-term rentals in the watershed.  There was clarification requested on the ability to have more than one short-term rental if each person in a domestic recognized relationship owns their own home.   There was concern expressed that short-term rentals would be permitted outright in urban village residential transition zones and asked staff to share the reasoning.  There was some clarification requested on the existing regulations in BMC 20.30.030, specifically #7, and how they will apply to the new ordinance. Old/New Business There was a brief conversation about upcoming meetings. Adjournment Minutes prepared by: ____________________________________________ Heather Aven, Recording Secretary Minutes edited by Planning Commission members and various Planning Staff.