HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Home Occupation Permit to allow an Airbnb Bed & Breakfast at 2323 Suncrest DriveCITY OF AMES, IOWA
ZONING BOARD OF ADJUS
Ll L
FEB 1 4 2018
CITY CLERK
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF NING TRUITT, FOR A SPECIAL CASE NO. 17-27
HOME OCCUPATION PERMIT, SECTION
29.1304 OF THE AMES MUNICIPAL GEOCODE NO. 09-16-455-140
CODE, TO ALLOW AN AIRBNB BED &
BREAKFAST ON THE PROPERTY DECISION & ORDER
LOCATED AT 2323 SUNCREST DRIVE
FACTS
Applicant Ning Truitt seeks a Special Home Occupation Permit to allow an Airbnb Bed &
Breakfast on the property located at 2323 Suncrest Drive. The home is a single -story home with
four bedrooms, and is approximately 3,210 square feet. The home is located in a low -density
residential zone which allows for a maximum of two guest rooms for Bed & Breakfast (B&B)
establishments.
The home currently provides off-street parking for a maximum of six vehicles, three within the
attached garage and three in front of the garage. The applicant states that guests will be required
to register upon their arrival and provide their name, current address and license plate number.
The length of stay of any guest will not exceed two weeks from the time of registry. No meals
will be served to guests of the property. No exterior changes are proposed, no signs will be
posted on the property, no additional employees or additional parking will be required, and there
will be no other home occupations at this location.
City Planner Eloise Sahlstrom reviewed the site plan, project description, applicable law and
Findings of Fact and Conclusions. Of the six off-street parking spaces available, two will be
provided for guests and the remaining four spaces will be for use by the owner. Approximately
725 square feet of the principal building will be used, which is 23% and within the maximum
(25%) area.
Property owners Lawrence and Ning Truitt of 2323 Suncrest Drive testified. Mr. Truitt stated
that his wife is a housewife and the proposed use will provide another source of income. They
have already had several guests and both homeowner and guest can evaluate each other so they
know what to expect. They stated that in other cities there are Airbnb rentals that are not owner -
occupied, but in this case they do live in the home.
Notification was made to all property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. Planning
staff reported that the City received a few phone calls requesting more information about the
application.
Ravindra Singh, Vinita Singh and Natalia Singh all of 2320 Suncrest Drive stated their position
against granting the Special Home Occupation Permit. Mr. Singh feels like traffic has increased
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in the area. He believes that Airbnb will have a negative impact on the neighborhood and stated
the City should regulate guests. Vinita Singh stated that she believes the business is altering the
character of the neighborhood and is concerned about other homes in the neighborhood
becoming Airbnb rentals. She is concerned for safety since there is no monitoring system and
believes the City should do more when complaints are received. Natalia Singh testified that a
Bed and Breakfast sounds nice, but an Airbnb is different. There is no way of screening who is
coming into town as a guest.
DECISION The Board considered the facts as detailed above and provided in the staff report,
and found that all of the relevant standards in Section 29.1304(3) were met and established by
the Applicant.
ORDER
WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is GRANTED, pursuant to Ames
Municipal Code Section 29.1304, a Special Home Occupation Permit to allow an Airbnb Bed &
Breakfast on the property located at 2323 Suncrest Drive with the following conditions:
a. A homeowner must be present during rental period.
b. Occupancy of the two permitted bed and breakfast rooms is limited to no more
than two persons for each room.
C. The applicant will keep a register of guests that will include the following
information for a record: name, current address and license plate number.
Any person desiring to appeal this decision to a court of record may do so within 30 days after
the filing of this decision.
Done this 101h day of January 2018.
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Heidi Petersen
Secretary to the Board