Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com
Published - Tuesday, January 11, 2005
City decides to hold two public meetings on rental rules rewrite
The Winona Planning Commission took a small step toward rewriting the city's rental housing regulations Monday at its first meeting since the city council imposed a six-month moratorium on new rental certificates.
Commissioners agreed to hold two public meetings — one with landlords and one with residents — before making a decision this spring.
The city council imposed the moratorium on Dec. 20 in a move designed to give the commission time to finish its ongoing discussion of occupancy limits and parking requirements.
When it last discussed the issue in early 2004, the commission agreed to lower the number of non-related people who can live together from five to three, said City Planner Mark Moeller.
Other commission suggestions included requiring two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit — the requirement is now 1.5 per unit — and requiring one parking space per bed for dormitory housing.
That discussion stalled in June "at the staff level," Moeller said.
Mayor Jerry Miller thanked the commissioners for their work and said he would like them to bring new ordinances to the council in less than six months. "Sometimes you get into some sticky situations," Miller said. "We appreciate you being on the frontline and taking the flak for us."
The commission scheduled its first meeting for Jan. 31; its second will be either Feb. 7 or Feb. 14, depending on whether it has to consider another issue on the 7th.
Miller suggested the commission include a representative from Winona State University at both meetings.
The discussion was prompted by complaints from homeowners in the neighborhoods around WSU.
Any changes to the city ordinances will affect only new rental dwellings; those already approved will be grandfathered.
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