FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson) 

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

Sitka Code Checked For Airbnb Options

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

The Sitka Planning Commission has started looking into options for a zoning text change to allow bed and breakfast permits in places where there’s already a rental on the property.

The discussion at Tuesday night’s regular commission meeting was prompted by a request from Sheila Finkenbinder, who wants to offer an Airbnb in her home, but she already has a long-term rental connected to her home.

She said she has a pullout couch in her house and would like to provide a place to stay for women who are traveling alone. She said there is a shortage of short-term lodging in Sitka at certain times of the year, and this would help alleviate that, and would provide her with another source of income in her retirement.

“Primarily, my goal is to make it affordable for women to travel and be able to stay in Sitka while on a budget,” she said. “This Airbnb is extremely low impact.” She said she planned to have only one guest at a time, and neighbors probably wouldn’t notice she even has a guest.

Planning and Community Development Director Maegan Bosak said several places in the Sitka General Code state that this kind of rental is not allowed.

Those include code sections that state a B&B shall not be considered if an apartment or a long-term rental has been operated on the property at any time in the previous three years.

In another section the code says it is the intent of the Assembly that the B&B provisions be strictly followed, but that exceptions may be granted in cases of extreme need or financial hardship. The code also says the use of a single-family occupied structure will not be eligible for hardship relief.

The commission asked Bosak to return with some options on how requests like Finkenbinder’s might be accommodated. In order to operate an Airbnb, Finkenbinder would need a B&B conditional use permit.

Bosak noted in her report that “Airbnb’s are a new and growing segment of the travel industry. They are distinguished by a particular online marketing presence and in some cases by offering couches or hide-a-beds for sleeping rather than a private room.” Those operating Airbnbs must have a business license, and pay bed and sales tax on the operation.

Commission members said that in general they had no problem with Finkenbinder’s specific request, but understood why the various code provisions were in place, to protect neighborhoods. A few said they were concerned that opening up the code could lead to unintended consequences.

“While I trust Sheila to do what she says, I’m not sure about other people,” said commission member Chris Spivey.

“To me it’s uncharted territory,” said Chairman Richard Parmelee at the outset of the discussion.

The commission worked through the various code provisions and asked Bosak to come back with options for possible code changes that they could recommend to the Assembly. 

Garden Stand

The commission gave final approval to a conditional use permit allowing garden produce to be sold at a stand in a residential zone.

The request was from Tom Hart and Lisa Sadleir-Hart, who live at 815 Charles Street. They want to set up a stand in their yard to sell excess produce from their garden. It was the first such request approved by the commission.

The two followed a lengthy process for a zoning text change that would allow them to apply for a permit directly through the Planning Commission at two meetings, with no Assembly approval required. They expressed relief that the long process was over, when the commission voted 4-0 to grant the permit.

In other business the commission granted a variance request to Ron and Caprice Pratt at 753 Alice Loop Road for reducing a front setback from 20 to 10 feet.

 

Commission members participating in the meeting were Parmelee, Spivey, Debra Pohlman and Randy Hughey, who participated by phone. Darrell Windsor was absent.

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.


50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....

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