City short-term rentals change to be revisited

A proposed zoning ordinance amendment that would allow short-term vacation rentals to operate in more areas of Cleveland could be revisited next month after being met with silence at a city council meeting last week.

After approving last month a first reading of the amended ordinance allowing short-term rentals in the R-1 residential district, the Cleveland City Council made no move proposed at its Dec. 6 meeting. When Mayor Josh Turner called for a motion for final adoption, council members sat in silence for more than a minute before the item was dropped without explanation.

In a follow-up interview, Turner said he was surprised by the inaction and expressed his opinion of the importance and need for short-term rentals. City 

Administrator Tom O’Bryant discussed the idea in August as a way for the city to benefit from White County’s growing tourism and visitation business.

In addition to the zoning amendment, the city has also been working on a new ordinance that would govern the process and requirements for operating short-term rental properties. The Cleveland Planning Commission has also offered recommendations in drafting the regulations.

When asked if the council was holding off to vote on the ordinance and rezoning at the same time, Turner replied that it would make sense. The item will be added to the agenda again in the new year to make another attempt at adoption.