At the July 26 Planning Commission workshop, vice-chair Pat Lujan passed around copies of research he had amassed regarding definitions from other municipalities related to Bed & Breakfasts. He noted there was a provision in one city for at least one annual inspection of B&Bs, many required the business to be owner-occupied, and there were more specific requirements for what constitutes a breakfast.
“These definitions spell it out,” Lujan commented.
He said one or two annual inspections would allow the city to see what is really going on and the inspections might help resolve the neighbor versus neighbor issues seen recently in Eureka Springs.
Lujan told commissioners the new information would give them something else to consider, but exhorted them to get ready to make decisions about the definitions in City Code they are studying. He said city council wanted a progress report, and he wanted to provide evidence they have made progress.
Commissioner James Morris said he was OK with having a manager on site instead of the owner, as he did not want to be too restrictive. Commissioner Tom Buford asked about a manager who is there to provide breakfast but must later go to a job. Commissioner Woodie Acord said it might be expecting too much to require only owner-occupied B&Bs.
Morris took issue with owners of B&Bs who were grandfathered in and rent rooms no more often than necessary to maintain compliance. He said City Code does not allow another B&B within 200 feet although there might be prospective B&B owners within that radius who would be more active and provide more tax revenue to the city. He suggested they consider a minimum annual fee for keeping the B&B.
Lujan agreed with the concept of a yearly recertification fee, and wanted possibly two inspections each year. He also pointed out that at some point they need to hear from B&B owners about their experiences.
He suggested they convene another workshop on City Code before their August 23 meeting, and they should come prepared to finish their work on defining B&Bs and settle any issues regarding breakfasts and allowing a manager instead of the owner to live on site.
Morris stated, “We don’t want to entangle Eureka Springs with too many regulations.”
Acord pointed out, “Many of the people who saved the old homes in town did so by running a B&B.” Lujan agreed the city does not need its grand old Victorians to waste away. Acord added if locals cannot afford the older homes, then out-of-town buyers will scoop them up and live here only part of the year.
Lujan restated his goal of completing the first part of their task at the August 23 workshop. He reminded commissioners an alderman had stated he did not think Planning could handle the task, “and I want to show them we can, so we need to get things decided.”
Regular meeting
During the regular meeting, commissioners decided on two items:
- The August 9 meeting will be preceded by a workshop at 5 p.m. with Jim vonTungeln, planning and zoning consultant for the Municipal League. Commissioners agreed they would get his advice about the B&B situation, the 200-foot rule and the 180-day rule. The public is invited.
- Commissioners voted Lujan as the new chair, commissioner Melissa Greene as the vice-chair and commissioner Susan Harman as secretary.
- There is a vacancy seat on the commission.
Next meeting will be Tuesday, August 9, at 6 p.m. There will be a workshop at 5 p.m.