Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Monday, October 24, 2005

Rental limit proposal near WSU to face public hearing

By Brian Voerding / Winona Daily News

The Planning Commission agreed Monday to send a proposed ordinance to cap rental properties to a public hearing, where they will vote on recommending to the City Council any or all of the 14 ordinance changes suggested earlier this fall by a city task force.

The Parking Advisory Task Force, created to address rental and parking issues around the Winona State University campus, made recommendations that include placing a 30-percent limit on rental properties per block, reducing the number of unrelated adults allowed to live together from five to three, limiting the number of boarders at an owner-occupied home to two, and several changes to street and residential parking ordinances.

The rental limit ordinance, which has become the most controversial proposed change, affects nearly 75 percent of the blocks near the WSU campus. Half of the affected blocks contain from 50 percent to 80 percent rental properties. If passed, the ordinance will not affect current buildings, even if they’re sold; landlords would retain their licenses unless they are revoked or not renewed.

Three of the nine commissioners, Dale Boettcher, Arlene Prosen and Richard Jarvinen, have said during meetings they will vote to recommend the ordinance. One commissioner, LaVerne Olson, has said he will vote against it.

Proposed parking changes include increasing the number of parking spaces for each rental unit — defined as a residence within a property — from 1.5 to 2, requiring fences on all residential lots with more than three vehicles, and prohibiting side yard parking for corner lots.

There will be 14 separate public hearings at the commission’s Nov. 14 meeting, one for each proposed ordinance. The meeting will be held in council chambers and begins at 4:30 p.m. Any ordinance the commission approves will go to the City Council.

The council will take a first look at the commission’s recommended ordinance changes Nov. 21, where they will hold a public hearing. The council will then vote on them Dec. 5. If the ordinance limiting rental properties is passed, the city is expected to allow the one-year moratorium on new rentals to expire Dec. 20.

Brian Voerding can be reached at (507)-453-3514 or brian.voerding@winonadailynews.com.