Decorah City Council approves the first reading of an ordinance regulating short term rental properties

The Decorah City Council has approved the first reading of proposed regulations of short-term housing within the city limits.

The Decorah Planning & Zoning Commission started looking into the issue because of some complaints directed at zoning issues such as parking and noise.  There have also been concerns about the impact short-term housing might have on affordable housing by using houses which might otherwise be sold to permanent residents.

The Planning and Zoning Commission is recommending the adoption of several amendments to city code which would incorporate short-term rentals into the registration and inspection programs the city uses for traditional housing.

Monday night the city council heard from West Broadway resident Melissa Koch who spoke against short term rentals as detracting from the community atmosphere of neighborhoods.  Koch said her family moved to Decorah because of its sense of community.

But City Administrator Chad Bird said a survey taken by city officials discovered short-term rentals were dispersed all over town and weren't concentrated in a few neighborhoods.  The survey estimated that there are 50 short-term rental properties within the city limits.

The city council voted 7-0 to approve the first reading of the ordinance.