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ST. GEORGE — The Springdale Town Council has applied the brakes on new transient lodging applications for the next six months.
A task force has been created and will analyze options and recommendations to decide the best way forward when it comes to transient lodging. They plan to then submit a recommendation to the Planning Commission.
The task force includes Mayor Barbar Bruno, Town Manager Rick Wixom, Director of Community Development Tom Dansie, Councilwoman Lisa Zumpft, Planning Commission members Tom Kenaston and Ric Rioux, Hans Dunzinger, who is representing owners of transient lodging, and Teresa Silcox as a "resident at large."
"We welcome feedback that is helpful and relevant to this process," Bruno said. "The task force that we put together is working on that now. We have diverse feelings about the issue. We come from diverse backgrounds, and we're researching what other areas in Utah are doing. We will come to some consensus. We hope that we have something to the Planning Commission by May."
By general definition, transient lodging refers to "a building, facility, or portion thereof, excluding inpatient medical care facilities and residential facilities, that contains sleeping accommodations" and may include, but is not limited to, resorts, group homes, hotels, motels and dormitories.
Bruno said the consequences of Springdale's rapid growth has resulted in:
- A decrease in the amount of long-term rental housing and exacerbating the town's affordable housing problem
- A conversion of non-lodging commercial properties into short-term transient lodging, thereby detracting from the town's village character
- A reduction in the diversity of commercial uses and services in the community
- An increase in the intensity of development on properties near residential areas
- Added strain to the town's infrastructure
Read the full article at St. George News.
KSL's Southern Utah News Section
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