Comments concerning SRO ( Single Room Occupancy )
August 20 ,2025
Jim Schmersahl
First , Single Room Occupancy Housing is already defined in the LMC although that use is not included elsewhere. I am not sure why . But I suggest that ,as you proceed ,the LMC be the means of regulating this use and not a separate ordinance .
Second , in 2018 The Zoning Administrator made a Zoning Determination ( 2018 – 600 Short Term Rentals.) that It has blurred (some would say obliterated) the distinction between a dwelling being a residence and a dwelling being a commercial endeavor .
Now , basically any house can be a hotel room . The city does not consider the termof of occupancy . A dwelling is a dwelling is a dwelling . There are neighborhood impact considerations ( although I have not heard an outcry ) .From an affordability perspective the housing stock is reduced by every dwelling being let out by the day or week. An owner can make a thousand dollars a week or more operating a quasi-commercial use from any dwelling.
Accommodation and Group Living in the LMC includes lodging /boarding arrangements in structures that are or where residences. Of interest to me is the provisions for a Rooming House ; only permitted a Conditional Use , must be an accessory use for an owner occupied property, and can have a max of 2 lodgers. A lodger is someone who stays at least 4 months .This arrangement has historically been an affordable option and I would suggest that you reexamine the 2 person limit. After all, with Determination of 2018-600 any house anywhere can rent rooms with no such limit and without ZBA approval. It is interesting to note that Tourist Home is defined in the LMC but does not appear in the matrix. By definition these do not have to be owner occupied and can cater to up to 9 transients ( people who stay 4 months or fewer ).
Thank you
PS -In doing some digging on this I found the definition of a Tenant in Section 10 is confusing and may say the opposite of what you want it to say.
Comments concerning SRO ( Single Room Occupancy )
August 20 ,2025
Jim Schmersahl
First , Single Room Occupancy Housing is already defined in the LMC although that use is not included elsewhere. I am not sure why . But I suggest that ,as you proceed ,the LMC be the means of regulating this use and not a separate ordinance .
Second , in 2018 The Zoning Administrator made a Zoning Determination ( 2018 – 600 Short Term Rentals.) that It has blurred (some would say obliterated) the distinction between a dwelling being a residence and a dwelling being a commercial endeavor .
Now , basically any house can be a hotel room . The city does not consider the termof of occupancy . A dwelling is a dwelling is a dwelling . There are neighborhood impact considerations ( although I have not heard an outcry ) .From an affordability perspective the housing stock is reduced by every dwelling being let out by the day or week. An owner can make a thousand dollars a week or more operating a quasi-commercial use from any dwelling.
Accommodation and Group Living in the LMC includes lodging /boarding arrangements in structures that are or where residences. Of interest to me is the provisions for a Rooming House ; only permitted a Conditional Use , must be an accessory use for an owner occupied property, and can have a max of 2 lodgers. A lodger is someone who stays at least 4 months .This arrangement has historically been an affordable option and I would suggest that you reexamine the 2 person limit. After all, with Determination of 2018-600 any house anywhere can rent rooms with no such limit and without ZBA approval. It is interesting to note that Tourist Home is defined in the LMC but does not appear in the matrix. By definition these do not have to be owner occupied and can cater to up to 9 transients ( people who stay 4 months or fewer ).
Thank you
PS -In doing some digging on this I found the definition of a Tenant in Section 10 is confusing and may say the opposite of what you want it to say.