During the Tuesday, Jan. 28 meeting of the Weatherford City Council it was standing room only as residents came to have their say about allowing short-term rentals in the city.
According to records, there are 50 illegal short-term rentals operating within the city of Weatherford. During the meeting, there were several homeowners who spoke their concerns during the open forum.
What makes them illegal is that they are operating without applying for a hotel/motel license and paying the fee through the finance department.
Several homeowners spoke about the cons of the current short-term rentals, including too many people in one home, too much noise, and trash not being set out required.
Mayor Paul Paschall noted there have only been five reported incidents on short-term rentals over the past five years.
For a short-term rental to operate there are several requirements that all involved need to abide by. The council had three alternatives that were presented. They took a vote and approved alternative No. 2, which would include the following:
1. Owner/contact information
2. Hotel tax proof
3. Liability Insurance
4. Compliance certification
5. Parking plan
6. Floor plan
7. House rules and safety documents
The other requirement is that only 25% of the units on the block are allowed to be short-term rentals.
The STRs that are currently operating will need to go through the permitting process and be approved to be complying.
Mayor Pro-tem, Heidi Wilder made a statement reflecting her concerns, “There is a difference between home and a house. A home is where you live and house is where you stay.”
Paschall also mentioned that "Most short-term rentals have fresh paint, the landscaping is up to date, and the lawns are freshly manicured to attract new clients. There are some long-term residents’ homes that are lacking the same attention.”
More discussion is expected to take place at the next meeting on Feb. 11.
Cotten Bratton project
Council voted to move ahead with a restaurant incentive that was allotted more than half the budget from the Weatherford Economic Development Board. The restaurant Zeno’s is part of the Cotton Bratton project on 113 College Ave., and was approved to receive $279,471 for improvements.
Zeno’s will relocate from its location on the downtown square into the old Cottten-Bratton building on the southeast quadrant of the square.
The overall project will include a restaurant, retail spaces, an event space, pizzeria, and a hotel with rooms ranging between $175 and $250 per night.
However, there were some concerns expressed about the allocation of funds that have been awarded. The fund was created for local businesses as an incentive to come and grow their business in downtown Weatherford.
The discussion was that some businesses that were in the queue to possibly receive these funds were turned down. This project was awarded $80,000 earlier this year and now could receive an additional $200,000.
“The fund was established to enhance the appearance and vitality of downtown Weatherford, with the goal of benefiting multiple locations and businesses," Wilder said. "While I am excited about this new development, I believe that allocating more than half of the fund to incentivize a single business does not align with the program’s intended purpose.
"The objective is to create opportunities for multiple businesses, fostering a collective improvement that elevates our downtown as a whole.”
After further discussion, however, the council voted its approval to move forward.
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