Planning Commission Approves Short-Term Rental Despite Neighborhood Concerns

The Stillwater Planning Commission unanimously approves a short-term rental application for a property on West Country Club Drive despite objections from neighbors who cite safety concerns and potential negative impacts on property values.

The application for 5313 W. Country Club Drive, presented by Garrett Baker, receives a 5-0 vote of approval during the commission's Feb. 25 meeting after commissioners hear arguments from both the applicant and concerned neighbors.

Baker, who lives approximately 10 houses away from the rental property, tells the commission he purchased the home primarily for friends and family to use, with Airbnb rental as a secondary purpose. Neighbors had accused Baker of renting the home before receiving formal approval.

The home, which sleeps up to 12 people, has had approximately five guests in the past three months, according to Baker.

"This property was in complete disarray. We saw this as an opportunity for us to clean up the neighborhood," said Baker, presenting before and after photos showing significant renovations to the property.

Neighbors express concerns about safety, particularly regarding children who frequently play in the street.

Lorna Stein, whose property backs up to the property, describes the area as "the most dangerous street and section of the street in all of Country Club" due to a slight incline and lack of sidewalks.

"We have women with baby carriages, about three a day in good weather. We have children ages five, six on one side, seven on the other of this property," Stein said. "There are no sidewalks. We have dog walkers. We have maybe five, six dog walkers every day."

Stein also mentions a previous fatality that occurred at the corner near the property.

Tina Fugate and Kent Dieball, who live directly across from the property, raise concerns about parking issues, with up to six cars sometimes parked in front of their house, making it difficult to exit their driveway.

"We didn't buy in Country Club to live next to a motel," Fugate said. "Basically that's what that is, is a motel. It's rented for a few days, you don't know who's there, and then they leave."

Baker addresses these concerns by emphasizing his commitment to being a good neighbor and his willingness to implement policies suggested by the commission.

"I want to be a good neighbor. And so to the extent that that house is causing problems, I want to know about it. I want to take care of the neighborhood," Baker said.

During the discussion, commissioners suggest several policies that could help mitigate neighbors' concerns, including maintaining the two-night minimum stay requirement, implementing quiet hours, restricting rentals to guests aged 25 and older, prohibiting on-street parking, and not renting to locals who might use the property for parties.

Commissioner Mark Prather explains that data shows renters from the local area are more likely to use short-term rentals for parties.

"The reason we ask about the local rentals is because we found that typically, or data shows that if someone is renting it and they're from a certain radius, there is the likelihood of them renting that for party purposes is higher," Prather said.

Baker agrees to consider implementing these suggested policies, emphasizing his personal stake in maintaining neighborhood quality.

"I am very, very much vested in the safety, the property values and the overall, let's call it, aura of the neighborhood," he said.

After hearing all arguments, commissioners note that the concerns raised are typical for short-term rental applications and that Baker appears willing to follow the commission's guidance on appropriate policies.

"None of the concerns are new concerns. These are concerns that are typically brought up with any of the Airbnbs that are brought before us," Vice-Chair Riley Williams said. "To me this doesn't fall outside of the norm for what we have been approving."

The approval is for one year, after which the permit must be renewed with the city. If issues arise during that time, neighbors can report them to the city clerk's office, code enforcement, or the police department, depending on the nature of the complaint.

The commission also has the authority to revoke the permit if significant problems occur.

In other business, the Planning Commission approves a final plat for Parkview Estates Section 10, Phase 1, creating 12 residential lots; recommends approval of a map amendment to rezone properties near Oklahoma State University from two-family residential to two-family multifamily residential; and recommends approval of a text amendment allowing flexibility in numbering lots and blocks for complex development projects.

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