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From:Joan Ziertman <br />To:Sophia Jensen <br />Subject:STR <br />Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 6:08:23 PM <br />Attachments:Occupancy Use and Classification.pdf <br />Building Code Classification.pdf <br />Building Code Classification.pdf <br />Scott Wheeler Contact.pdf <br />Application.pdf <br />Hi Sophia, <br />I would like to voice my opinion against adding STR as an allowed use. Managing the STR <br />program takes a lot of staff time and I don't believe there is any benefit to the residents. In <br />Stillwater we see a lot of businesses buying these properties for investment (R1). That takes <br />from our housing stock. In Stillwater, we have seen businesses purchase multiple investment <br />properties and take them out of the housing stock. Should there be a limit to the number of <br />licenses one entity can have? <br />Based on State Building Code, the City needs to distinguish between R1 (Commercial non- <br />owner occupied) and R3 occupancy (Residential owner occupied). I have attached the section <br />from state building code that spells that out. I have also attached the Stillwater Code <br />Classification criteria. I have also attached the Department of Labor and Industry memo that <br />clarifies . If you have questions regarding the R1 and R3 determination requirement, you can <br />contact Scott Wheeler, Code Services Supervisor at DOLI (contact attached). <br />I have attached a copy of the City of Stillwater application. When someone applies, one of the <br />first things to determine is if the property will be owner occupied. We verify that through <br />utility billing, drivers license, homesteading etc. If the property is not owner occupied, it is <br />considered an R1 (commercial) and must meet accessibility. Signed certified architectural <br />plans are required. Because it is commercial, a state plumbing plan review needs to be <br />conducted with commercial plans submitted to DOLI. If a home is on private septic, the septic <br />system would need to be evaluated for commercial waste. Once all modifications are <br />completed to convert from R3 to R1, a new certificate of occupancy is issued. The City of <br />Stillwater does not accept an application for an R1 until all accessibility modifications have <br />been completed. Maybe the City should only allow owner occupied STR? <br />These are all things to take into consideration when evaluating if STR should be allowed in the <br />City. Has staff determined the amount of time it will take to manage the program? This <br />would include not just the licensing, but also plan review, inspections and the Building & Fire <br />depts time for initial inspections. There is a lot that goes into this program. The City of <br />Stillwater has had a STR ordinance/program since 2018 and continues to learn and modify. <br />In summary, I am not in favor of adding STR as an allowed use. It is a complex program,