Denver Debates Continue Over Short-Term Rentals
On Saturday, Feb. 14, members of the public and the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) Committee convened at Denver Water for their February monthly meeting, with a special segment on short-term rentals in residential zone districts.
A short-term rental (STR) is the renting of a home or apartment, or portion thereof for less than 30 days. A discussion panel included Councilwoman Mary Beth Susman; Kyle Dalton, a senior planner with Community Planning and Development (CPD); Abe Barge, a senior planner with CPD; Clark Stevens, who is Airbnb global head of strategic safety initiatives; and Margie Valdez, the co-chair of the INC Zoning and Planning Committee (INC-ZAP).
Susman gave an update on her City Council Sharing Economy Task Force. Dalton and Barge explained how the current 2010 Denver Zoning Code does not allow short-term rentals in residential zone districts and the process and fines for properties that are found to be in violation for operating short-term rentals. Stevens talked about how Airbnb is working with municipalities that have legalized short-term rentals or are considering legalizing them. And Valdez explained how a special short-term rental sub-committee of INC-ZAP researched and developed a report on the potential impacts of short-term rentals in residential zone districts and City processes.
Valdez also mentioned that on Feb. 10, the Zoning Board of Adjustment denied the appeal to cease and desist the operation of several short-term rental units at a property in the Congress Park neighborhood. The owners of this property, who live out of state, indicated that they would continue to rent out the units in the building, but for 30 days or more, in order to comply with zoning code.
The panel introductions were followed by an hour of public comment from the audience. Concerned citizens and short-term rental hosts made statements and asked questions of the STR panel. Public comment included one from the owner of Castle Marne, a licensed Bed & Breakfast in a Historic Denver Landmark on 16th Avenue and Race St. His concerns about the existence of short-term rentals that are not licensed, do not pay taxes and are not subject to annual inspections, are an affront to the business that he has worked so hard to build and operate in compliance with applicable laws.
(For more on the commonly cited pros and cons of short-term rentals, check out the January Z&P in the Greater Park Hill News, online at http://greaterparkhill.org/2015/01/short-term-rentals-sharing-economy/).
Whether you are pro or con short-term rentals, if this issue is important to you, get involved in your Registered Neighborhood Organization (RNO). RNOs are the mechanism through which Denver residents have a collective voice to the City of Denver. Park Hill’s RNO is Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. (GPHC) and meets the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm at the GPHC offices, at 2823 Fairfax St. (there are no meetings in July and December).
Susman’s Task Force does not have a time line for any proposed changes to the Zoning Code regarding STRs. The Sharing Economy Task Force meets as needed Mondays at 3 p.m. in Room 391 of the City & County Building (1437 Bannock St.). Task Force meetings are open to the public and if you wish to speak during public comment, you must arrive early to sign up. Go to denvergov.org for further information.
A video of the forum is available on the INC website, at this link:
Bernadette Kelly is chair of the Zoning Committee for Greater Park Hill Community, Inc.