Council seats Jared Glover on planning commission; members press to finish master plan and pursue an ordinance for short-term rentals

The Lewiston City Council voted to approve Jared Glover for a new five-year term on the planning and zoning commission and then heard his views on growth and the city’s master plan. Jared Glover, speaking as a lifelong resident and incoming planning commissioner, said, "I am pro landowner rights" and "I am pro limited growth," and urged controlled development that fits the master plan.

Glover and other members said the master plan update has been delayed by consultant turnover. Glover said, "Bragg has derailed that," and described frustration that data and map updates haven’t moved forward. Unidentified Speaker 5 said the master plan’s language largely remains useful but that updated data, maps and growth statistics are needed and that securing consultant funding is the bottleneck.

Separately, planning and zoning are beginning work on short-term rental regulation. Unidentified Speaker 5 said short-term rentals are currently handled via conditional use but recommended moving toward an ordinance, with the commission collecting examples from other communities and planning a public hearing once a draft is complete.

The council did not take further formal action beyond the appointment. Council members said they will press for the consultant-driven data updates and schedule the short-term rental ordinance for additional public input before any regulatory change.

Next steps noted in the meeting: planning and zoning will continue work on data/map updates with consultants and prepare a draft short-term-rental ordinance for review and public hearing.