Gonzales City Council, by identical 3-2 votes, approved two Special Use Permit applications to operate Airbnbs last night. Councilman Kirk Boudreaux moved to approve both applications, based on the Zoning Commission’s recommendation (see below) dated June 1 and including a list of restrictions. Boudreaux was joined in the majority by Councilmen Eddie Williams and Tyler Turner (with Cynthia Gray James and Terri Lambert in the minority).
These are the third and fourth “short term rental” applications.
- Public hearing to consider Application No. 2025-367, submitted by Kristi Raines, requesting to apply for a “Special Use Permit” (SUP) to operate an Airbnb, Short Term Rental, in a R-3-Th Residential District located at 919 W. Rothland Street, Unit 5-C. Parcel No. 2492105.
- Public hearing to consider Application No. 2026-368, submitted by Mark Boss, requesting to apply for a “Special use Permit” (SUP) to operate an Airbnb, Short Term Rental, in a R-3-Th Residential District located at 909 W. Tony Street, Unit 15-B. Parcel No. 20019498.
The approval was made subject to conditions recommended by the Zoning Commission:
- No more than four individuals present
- Off-street parking exclusively
- Only one rental at any given time
- No parties/gatherings allowed at the location
- Local individual designated as responsible party at all times
- Quiet Time designated (from 10:00 p.m. through 7:00 p.m.)
The curious part, why did a unanimous Council ignore the Zoning Commission’s recommendation for conditional approval of an Airbnb on February 9, this one on Asphodel Street? It would go on to approve a similar application in Southwood Subdivision by a 4-1 vote on March 9.
The demand for Airbnb and other short-term rentals is anticipated to increase alongside industrial sector construction ramps up. Hyundai, CF Industries, Air Products…thousands of workmen are needed on both sides of the Mississippi River.
“We know that a fair number of those workmen will be housed inside the City of Gonzales, whether they’re working on the east or west bank,” Mayor Tim Riley assessed the situation last week. “We continue to see applications to permit multi-family housing and hotels. Clearly, most of it is driven by the ongoing industrial construction.”
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