Politics & Government

Short Term Rental Denied, Again

Council members site their concern with preserving Palm Desert neighborhoods.

Owners of a Palm Desert home failed for a second time tonight to obtain permit to operate it as a short term rental.

Alan and Susan Parker, who were denied a conditional use permit by the Palm Desert Planning Commission last month, wanted to rent out their home at 44600 San Jose Ave., west of Portola Avenue.

The couple already paid $1,000 in application fees, which is non-refundable under the new program.

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The conditional use permit restricts rentals to a two-day, three-night lease at the minimum. The application was the first since council members approved restrictions on the rentals in April.

Council members voted 2-3 against the permit.

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Reason for denial

During the Aug. 2 meeting, a neighbor gave testimony complaining about noise, parking and trash issues, which Commissioner Connor Limont said had an impact on her decision.

"In this case, we had a neighbor that came in and there are issues with it. And the owner wasn’t here,'' Limont said.

The Palm Desert City Council will consider whether to overturn the commission's decision at this afternoon's 4 p.m. meeting in the .

Approval

The city's second short term rental application was approved at Tuesday's meeting.

Gordon Edlund and his wife, Daphne, sought to turn their three-bedroom home at 77271 Ohio Circle, north of Fred Waring Drive, into a short term rental.

Commissioners approved the conditional use permit in a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Connor Limont absent.

The Edlunds proposed a stricter lease than the city's requirements, pledging to not rent to any tenants under the age of 25 and only lease the home for a minimum of one week.

They also will ask for a noise deposit from their tenants.

"We screen our renters and we take it very seriously. This is our home and we plan to retire here,'' Gordon Edlund said.

One neighbor objected to the application, arguing that it would be obstructive to the small cul-de-sac.

"I’d like to keep my little area a residential area and not have to see strange people, strange cars … or partying in my neighborhood,'' Candace Gilmore said.

Commissioner Van Tanner acknowledged her concerns.

"We’re doing this on a case by case basis. I think this is the right thing to do,'' Tanner said, adding that the neighbor should contact the city's Code Enforcement if any issues arise.


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