PC 23-400-01 Hunter

Case #23-400-01 217 S. Hunter Street Applicant/Owner: Rob Scarborough Action: Short-Term Rental

E. Truman Road

S. Hunter Street

E. Walnut Street

Aerial Photograph

Cases #23-400-01

Short Term Rental Map

Case #23-400-01

PROPERTY HISTORY AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS In Spring 2022, HardScar Investments LLC (HardScar) purchased this property in central Independence to start a short-term rental; it will be managed by HardScar’s subsidiary management company ‘Just Like Home Vacation Rentals.’ This company already manages two other sites in Independence and 17 in the metro area.

The property contains a 1,120-square foot house with three bedrooms for an occupancy of six people. On the main floor, along with two bedrooms is the kitchen, bathroom, and living room; the third bedroom is upstairs. It’s light brown in color with darker brown trim. The double wide driveway on the south side of the lot extends from the street along the house to provide off-street parking for at least four cars.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AREA The surrounding, single-family neighborhood is dominated by small homes sited on streets without curbs, gutters, or sidewalks. Most of the area houses are post-World War II ranches on tree shaded lots.

Looking East at the house

Another view of the house

First Floor of House

Second Floor of House

The house south of the site

Across S. Hunter to the Southwest

Across S. Hunter to the West

To the Northwest, across S. Hunter

Looking South down Hunter

The house North of the site

SHORT TERM RENTAL REQUIREMENTS With the attached application materials, HardScar has addressed the following topics: • Noise monitoring – HardScar plans to install the ‘Minut Noise Monitoring’ system which will notify the applicant if the decibel level is above 85db for more than five continuous minutes.

• Trash Removal - Trash pick-up is scheduled for a weekly pick up via Ted’s Trash Service every Tuesday morning.

• Property listing - The property will only be listed on the AirBNB site.

• Business operations/security - Just Like Home Vacation Rentals, based in Smithville, will be responsible for most of the business operations including site security, screening customers, and coordinating bookings.

• City’s Short Term Rental checklist – The form was completed by the applicant covering licensing, future inspections, insurance, on-site information posting, and so forth.

• Fire safety – A fire evacuation plan had been submitted along with floor plans of the house. The fire escape plan must also be posted per Code requirement.

• City inspection - The site recently passed the City Fire Department’s Initial Short-Term Rental Safety Inspection without any conditions or exceptions.

Recommendation Staff recommends APPROVAL of this Short-Term Rental with the following conditions:

1. The Short-Term Rentals shall obtain a business license in accordance with the City Code and comply with Article 3, Chapter 5 of the City Code. The occupation license number shall be listed on all advertisements and online platforms.

2. The maximum occupancy of the premises shall be limited to six.

3. The noise monitoring system shall be installed and activated, the Good Neighbor Guidelines, evacuation plan and other notices must be properly posted, prior to approval of the business license.