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But if the city doesn’t adopt a limit, then it’s ignoring the big picture of revitalizing downtown and restoring pride in home ownership, said Winona City council member Deb Salyards, part of the task force that recommended the ordinance.
Those comments, made during a debate at a special Planning Commission meeting, represent the two sides regarding a proposed ordinance that would limit city rental properties to 30 percent per block.
The Planning Commission will decide Monday on whether to send the ordinance to a Nov. 14 public hearing. If they vote during the hearing to recommend it, it will move to the City Council.
If passed, the ordinance will not affect current buildings; instead, it will bar future rental properties on any blocks that exceed the percentage.
“The blocks that are already over 30 percent will stay that way,” said Assistant City Planner Joe Barbeau.
If rentals on those blocks are sold, they will retain their license, Barbeau said. It has been reported that they would not.
Properties on an affected block cannot be re-certified only if the rental license is revoked or not renewed. This could happen under a variety of circumstances, including:
n City inspectors find a residence isn’t up to code and landlords don’t make the required improvements.
n City Council votes to revoke a license after hearing complaints against a residence (i.e., loud parties or disturbances).
n Landlord doesn’t apply for re-certification.
If passed, the ordinance would affect nearly 75 percent of the blocks near Winona State University. Half of those blocks have between 50 and 80 percent rental properties. Over 90 percent of the blocks farther away from the university will not be affected.
The Commission decided on the 30 percent figure after learning that citywide, 39 percent of units (individual spaces within properties) are rentals, Barbeau said.
At the November hearing, the Commission will also consider several other proposed ordinance changes, including:
n Reducing the number of unrelated adults allowed to live together from five to three.
n Decreasing the number of roomers in a family dwelling unit from four to two.
n Raising off-street parking requirements per residence from 1.5 to two.
n Requiring fences on all residential lots that have more than three vehicles.
The proposed ordinance changes were suggested by the Parking Advisory Task Force, a committee formed earlier this year to address parking and rental issues around Winona State.
Reporter Brian Voerding can be reached at (507) 453-3514 or brian.voerding@ winonadailynews.com.
