PULLMAN, WA – The public will once again have a chance to comment on the City of Pullman’s controversial new Short Term Rental regulations during Wednesday night’s planning commission meeting.
The new rules went into effect in June as part of a much larger city zoning code update. Pullman’s two senior-most City Councilmembers, Nathan Weller and Pat Wright, voted against the new restrictions on STR’s like Airbnb’s and Vrbo’s. The new rules require fees, inspections, safety measures and online advertising mandates. City staff sent 60 letters to non-complaint operators threatening them with daily 250 dollar fines starting January 1st if they fail to comply with the new rules.
The planning commission unanimously recommended that city council approve the zoning code update and new STR regulations. Months after that vote some commissioners admitted that they felt pressured into approving the new code.
The issue has returned to the forefront this fall as Pullman City Council voted to have the planning commission take a second look at the new rules. Councilman Eric Fejeran, who voted for the new STR code, crafted a list of 10 items for the planning commission to re-examine. Pullman Community Development Director RJ Lott informed the commission during their November meeting that they would only review the city’s definition of a Short Term Rental. Lott stated that Mayor Francis Benjamin and new City Administrator Sean Wells have directed planning department staff to handle the other areas of re-examination asked for by council.
During their last meeting planning commissioners asked Lott for more information about STR definitions. The only item on Wednesday night’s agenda for the planning commission is to review what defines a STR. The agenda also notes that public comment will be accepted during Wednesday’s meeting. Public comment was prohibited during the commissions last meeting.
Pullman City Council wants to hear back from the planning commission by the end of March. City council will have three new members by that time. Wednesday night’s City of Pullman Planning Commission meeting starts at 7:00 inside city hall.
