Sandusky pushes to enlarge transient rental areas

SANDUSKY — The residential areas in Sandusky where people can legally rent out their homes to tourists might expand.During a recent hearing, city officials pushed forward legislation centered around what's called a transient rental overlay district.With help from city planning director Angie Byington, here's a quick understanding of the existing law and what could change:The definition: In Sandusky, transient rentals basically allow property owners or homeowners to rent, lease, sublease, let or sublet a home in all commercial and business districts. Some properties in residentially zoned districts scattered across Sandusky can rent out their homes to transient occupants after winning a 2013 court decision.The proposal: Workers in the city's planning department recommended keeping the ban for transient rentals in residentially zoned areas except for in places deemed as "overlay districts." They proposed where one should go at the recent meeting.The location: Pending an affirmative vote, Sandusky's first such overlay district would encompass an area within the Cove District. The zone would include parts of Anderson, Curran, Cove, First, Garfield, Lockwood, Meigs and Sycamore streets along with Sycamore Line.Shaded in blue, the proposed transient rental overlay district in Sandusky encompasses a large swath within the Cove District neighborhood.The reason: "We feel that the proposed location lends itself well to this use as there is currently a successful transient rental area adjacent (on Curran Street, which was part of the 2013 case) which has seen much investment in recent years."The timeline: Approval could come as soon as sometime later this summer. "After final approval, this overlay district will permit owners to, in addition to existing permitted uses, transient rent their properties, however, owners would still have to register their properties as transient rentals, meet all requirements and pass an inspection prior to renting."The regulations: The city instituted four ways to supervise transient rentals:1. Registration: Any property owner seeking to become a transient renter must submit plans — a floor plan, a parking plan, etc. — pay a one-time $500 registration fee and follow other strict guidelines.2. Inspection: Each transient rental property must undergo an extensive inspection process, which includes a city zoning worker checking out the living space's interior and exterior areas. After receiving the necessary certification, all properties are subject to additional inspections, both exterior and interior.3. Enforcement: Some of the recently hired employees in the zoning department will oversee transient rental activity, which includes citing anyone violating related laws.4. Taxation: Just as motels, hotels, lodges and bed and breakfasts do, each transient rental unit must pay bed taxes.Shaded in blue, the proposed transient rental overlay district in Sandusky encompasses a large swath within the Cove District neighborhood.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Sandusky city commissioners are moving forward with legislation which, if approved, would allow property owners on Garfield Street (pictured) to rent out their homes on a short-term basis.