Short-term rentals at issue in ADU proposal

Officials grapple with whether Port should allow accessory dwelling units to be rented through the likes of Airbnb
By 
KRISTYN HALBIG ZIEHM
Ozaukee Press staff

Port Washington aldermen reviewed a proposed plan to allow accessory dwelling units in the city last week, and while no one questioned the idea of allowing these units — commonly called mother-in-law suites or Fonzie flats — officials debated whether these units should be allowed to be used as short term rentals.

Ald. Mike Gasper noted the city has fewer hotel rooms than would be considered optimal and said allowing these units to be used as short-term rentals through Airbnb or Vrbo “makes up for this shortage of hotel spaces.” But, he added, the city may not want to allow every unit to be used for this purpose.

The current proposal would allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, in areas zoned for single-family homes, and Gasper suggested this be expanded to the central city mix zoning district as well, since this area is closer to commercial areas of the city where ADUs and short-term rentals may not be as intrusive.

“I think there’s value in allowing it (short-term rentals),” he said.

Mayor Ted Neitzke noted that the question of short-term rentals should be addressed separately by the Common Council.

“We probably need to think about what our ordinance would be on Airbnbs and Vrbos,” he said, noting he recently checked out these websites and “there are many more homes for rent in Port Washington than I thought.”

No matter whether the city allows short-term rentals or restricts the use of ADUs to family members, it needs to consider how it will regulate these uses, Ald. Dan Benning said.

“How are we going to police it?” he asked.

The Plan Commission has been looking at the issue of ADUs since receiving numerous requests by homeowners to add offices and recreation areas in their garages, Bob Harris, the city’s director of planning and development, said. The stipulation in allowing these uses was that there could be no bathroom or living quarters.

But ADUs have become increasingly popular, he said, leading the commission to consider allowing them throughout the city.

The proposed regulations allow for one ADU per lot with the stipulation that either the primary home or the ADU must be the residence for the property owner. The units cannot be subleased, according to the regulations, and can only be occupied by one family or a maximum of two unrelated people.

An ADU that’s attached to the ground floor of a house or detached can be no larger than 600 square feet, according to the proposed regulations, while an ADU within the house or on the top floor of a garage can be no larger than 768 square feet. Those at the ground level of a large home could be 960 square feet.

The units also can’t be taller than the primary house, according to the proposed rules, and they can’t be more than one story with a loft space.

ADUs would need to be reviewed by the city’s Design Review Board and approved by the Common Council. This, Harris said, would allow the city “nice design control.”

Neitzke spoke in favor of allowing ADUs, saying they could help support the city’s aging population.

The Common Council’s comments will be addressed as the city drafts an ordinance regarding ADUs that’s expected to be sent to the council for consideration later this year, Harris said.

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