The Planning Commission heard heated comments last week about its recent attempts to control bed and breakfast establishments. During Public Comments, several B&B owners voiced complaints, and commission Chair Ann Sallee read an email she had received on the same topic.
“I’m in my thirty-fifth season of battling you guys,” Barbara Gavron wrote. Gavron operates 11 Singleton House, and opposes new regulations. She suggested the commission review its mission statement, writing, “Enough is enough with the B&Bs.”
Bob Jasinski, owner of Angel at Rose Hall Bed and Breakfast, ran out of time before he ran out of complaints. He touched upon a number of topics, including properties listed as weekly rentals which operate as nightly rentals. He also asked what steps the commission has taken to address existing code violations. He said a misinterpretation of code led to new regulations about someone living on-site at a B&B. “Before you pose any new requirements about making the owner live on the premises, return the law to what it should be,” he said. “A B&B is a property where an owner resides.”
John Speed has owned Hidden Springs Bed and Breakfast for seven years. He grew increasingly heated as he addressed “another ongoing attack” against owners of B&Bs. He said he would have no problem meeting the proposed requirement for an affidavit that the owner lives on site, but “it reaches the point where you just feel harassed.”
Speed said other owners of B&Bs or other businesses feel the city is not friendly to them. He described a “never-ending” struggle with city regulations. “If someone is breaking code, have the code enforcement officer deal with it, and leave us alone,” he said. He further questioned selective enforcement of regulations. He said an abandoned truck is parked “a block from the mayor’s house” without any action from the city. “I may park an old abandoned truck in front of my place,” Speed said.
Commissioners do not respond directly to public comments, but they have their own opportunity for comments at the end of the meeting. “I’m very business-focused,” commissioner Fergie Stewart said. Commissioner James Mitchell promised to listen to all sides of arguments, and said, “I’d like to come to a fair conclusion for all concerned.”