The Ellijay City Council gave a first reading of a revised ordinance to govern short-term or ”vacation” property rentals when meeting at City Hall Monday, July 19.
At last month’s council meeting, the first reading of an initial draft of the ordinance was tabled after Mayor Al Hoyle and councilmembers Sandy Ott, Tom Crawford, Katie Lancey, Kevin Pritchett and Al Fuller heard comments and questions, mostly from owners of short-term rental properties.
Some changes were made, and the revised version was introduced at the July 19 meeting.
The ordinance defines a short-term rental unit as any detached, attached or semi-attached structure now or formerly used as a single-family dwelling, or the renting or leasing of a part or all of any structure not operating as a hotel, bed and breakfast, motel or inn, where the term of occupancy, possession of tenancy, is for a period of less than 30 days.
Changes to the previous ordinance draft include different parking and distance requirements.
The previous draft stated that one off-street parking space will be required per each room that qualifies as a bedroom in a short-term rental unit. The revised ordinance makes that requirement only for short-term rentals in residential zoning districts that have a conditional use-permit.
Per the revised ordinance, if the rental unit is located in the city’s Central Business District (CBD) or a commercial district, “parking shall be pursuant to parking requirements for those zoning districts.”
Although short-term rentals in residential zoning districts are prohibited, residential property owners can get a conditional-use permit from the city if certain criteria is met. The area in which neighbors can object to the conditional use of residential property as a short-term rental has also changed.
The previous draft included the following as a requirement that must be met by conditional-use permit applicants: No owner of residential property within 5,000 feet of the proposed short-term rental objects to the proposed use.
The revised ordinance greatly shortens that distance to 500 feet. Also per the ordinance, owners or hosts of short-term rentals are required to give notice of their intent to operate to all residential parcels within 500 feet of the unit and/or a homeowner’s association.
For subdivisions, the ordinance states, as a requirement: No owner of property within the subdivision where the proposed short-term rental is located objects to the property being used as a short-term rental.
All short-term rental units will now require a license from the city, which must be renewed each year. The annual license fee is $200. The owner or manager of any short-term rental must also hold valid hotel/motel tax compliance and an occupation tax certificate from the city.
No action was required for the first reading of the ordinance. A second reading will be given at the August meeting.
In other news ...
﹣ Present councilmembers Ott, Crawford, Lancey and Fuller approved a resolution supporting the inclusion of Ellijay if chosen to participate in a 2022 statewide community housing initiative.
Joint Development Authority Director Kent Sanford described the Georgia Initiative For Community Housing as an educational opportunity for communities that want to put together comprehensive housing plans. Applying for the program is a competitive process as only five “cohorts,” or participating communities, are picked per year, he added.
“We applied for it last year for Gilmer, Ellijay and East Ellijay, but weren’t accepted. It’s best in communities our size when you have the county and both cities working together,” Sanford told the council.
The three-year program includes meetings, initiatives, retreats and other programs designed to assist communities in addressing housing needs and developing housing plans.
If the Gilmer/Ellijay/East Ellijay community is chosen, a 20-member committee with representatives from the county and two cities will be selected, Sanford noted.
“We can see what has worked well in other communities and what hasn’t worked well in other communities,” he added.
During a workshop that preceded the council meeting, a woman who did not identify herself told Sanford that she’d researched the community housing initiative online and it sounds like more than just an educational opportunity.
Later, she asked councilmembers to table action on their resolution to support the program application until the community can learn more about it, but the motion to support the application passed.
Ott, who Sanford said has agreed to be part of that 20-member program committee, abstained from voting on the item.
﹣ Councilmembers did not approve a request from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) asking Ellijay to enter into a mowing and maintenance agreement for a new roundabout at the intersection of Old Highway 5 and Highway 382.
Hoyle said the agreement is fairly extensive and would put a lot of burden on the city and its street crew.
Crawford motioned to indefinitely table the item, but that motion died without an immediate second and no further action was taken.
﹣ After a brief executive session, councilmembers reconvened and approved hiring Andrew Mathis as Ellijay’s new code enforcement officer.