City reviews short-term rental proposal

Coulee Dam is reviewing a proposed change in the rules that govern how property owners can rent their property for short periods of time.

The change is sought by those who want to meet what they say is a consistent need in the local market already served by online companies like Airbnb that serve both property owners and renters for stays under 30 days.

The city council spoke with Mike Manning of SCJ Alliance, a planning consultant for the city at their Sept. 13 meeting. Manning has been drafting changes to the city’s Comprehensive Plan to spell out conditions under which short-term rentals would need to operate.

Requirements under consideration include stipulating that an owner can appoint an agent who lives within a specified area to oversee the property, adding nuisance regulations such as noise level specifications, meeting fire code, paying taxes, annual inspections, responding to complaints, requiring a site plan, and more.

Manning said a public hearing will be required before passage of the change.

In a separate matter, the city will hold a public hearing on applications to change the zoning for two properties across the street from city hall originally built as dormitories in the 1930s. One is owned by the hospital and used for housing visiting medical professionals. The other is a private home and former bed and breakfast, whose owners plan to eventually make a similar use of their home, plus more related commercial uses, Manning said.