County questions short-term rentals
Staff writer
Dustin Raney’s application for a short-term rental at Marion County Lake received some pushback Monday from Marion County Commissioners.
Clarke Dirks was the most vocal, saying too many questions needed answers.
The commission voted 4-0 to delay action on the proposal. It had been approved by the county Planning and Zoning Commission.
The vacation home and short-term rental is at 30 Lakeshore Dr. It would rent for $6,000 a month
Dirks said the property was advertised with enough space for 12 people, but this would violate county rules.
County rules state a maximum of eight people can stay at a rental home.
Raney said he would reduce the number to eight.
Sharon Olmstead, zoning commissioner, said that if Raney violated a proposed conditional-use permit the county could revoke it.
There is not a lot of parking, and while the recommendation is for renters to use a concrete slab at the house, it is legal to park on a street or in back of the rental.
Dirks said regulations require that rentals have two egresses, but the short-term rental might not have these.
“We must fully enforce all the regulations,” Dirks said. “We must meet these criteria, and until we do, we can’t have anymore Airbnbs,” he said.
If the commission approved short-term rentals in violation of county rules while going against county regulations, the county would be liable if something happened, he said.
“We are putting the county on the line,” he said.
Olmstead said Raney was willing to work with the county.
Dirks said that issues with short-term rentals had been going on for years.
“Until we know this is in compliance we can’t be putting the county at risk,” he said. “We, as a county, need to say what we are going to do.”