Planning commission denies rezoning request that would have allowed a short-term rental at 271 Church Street

The Versailles Planning and Zoning Commission voted to deny a zoning map amendment that would have allowed Linda Weiss to convert her house at 271 Church Street into a short‑term rental. The motion to deny the rezoning (from R1C to R4) carried on a voice vote after commissioners heard a detailed staff report, testimony from the applicant and multiple neighbor complaints.

Staff planner Steve Hunter told the commission the 0.109‑acre lot sits in the Traditional Neighborhood District and that the applicant had asked for R4 zoning to make a dedicated short‑term rental possible. Hunter reviewed the comprehensive‑plan policies and the short‑term‑rental standards in the local ordinance, and said the applicant proposed five conditions if the CUP were later considered: a six‑guest maximum, at least one adult 25 or older on site, no smoking indoors, no events or commercial filming, and parking limited to two driveway spaces.

Applicant Linda Weiss, who said she currently offers the house as 30‑day‑plus furnished stays, told the commission she would limit rentals to three nights or more and screen guests to avoid parties. "I intend to focus on longer, quieter stays with responsible guests, not high turnover party traffic," Weiss said, adding she manages a long‑term rental successfully elsewhere and has cameras outside the property. Weiss also recounted a previous eviction and property damage she experienced with a problematic long‑term tenant.

Neighbors urged denial. "They would park in our yard," said Katherine Anne Chase, who said tenants had previously parked on her property and left trash; she said she had called police to remove visitors. Another neighbor, Gwindelyn Chase Howard, described loud parties and vehicles blocking sight lines and a fire lane on Church Street. Amy's Chase told the commission that tenants had removed neighbors' posted 'no parking' signs.

Commissioners debated tradeoffs between housing supply and short‑term rentals, the difficulty of fitting two cars on the narrow lot, and the enforcement limits of a CUP. Commissioner Whitney Stepp expressed concern that permitting another short‑term rental in the neighborhood could remove available housing stock and set a precedent for spot zoning that would change the area's character. Staff noted that a conditional‑use permit can include enforceable conditions — such as paving and dedicated parking — but that the zone change itself was the immediate question before the commission.

A motion to deny the zoning amendment was made and seconded; after a voice vote the motion carried. Staff clarified that because the zone change was denied, the commission did not proceed to a vote on the conditional‑use permit. If the city later approves a zone change, the board of adjustments could then consider the CUP and any recorded conditions.

The commission closed the public hearing after the vote. There was no immediate decision to pursue any enforcement action beyond the usual code‑enforcement and police remedies discussed during the hearing.