Plan commission tables decision on Woodland Drive tourist house permit

The City of Rhinelander plan commission voted last week to postpone its decision on a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application submitted by a property owner seeking to operate a tourist house/short-term rental on Woodland Drive.

The unanimous vote to table the matter until the group’s next meeting, and seek legal advice from city attorney Steve Sorenson, came after the commission held a public hearing that featured commentary from a number of neighboring property owners who raised questions about the suitability of allowing a short-term rental to operate in close proximity to James Williams Middle School and other educational facilities.

A specific concern expressed by multiple speakers was that, potentially, a sex offender could rent the home on a short-term basis. 

Alderman Tom Barnett, whose district includes Woodland Drive, was the first to note that children are a fixture in that area of town due to its close proximity to a school zone.

“My main concern is the safety of the constituents, not only in my district but in the city (as a whole),” he said. “There are a lot of kids that walk up and down that street. My concern is that it will be a loophole for predators to use. Rent a nice little house for a weekend or a few days during the week while kids are walking up and down the street. That’s a real concern. I also don’t feel we have enough distance between public parks either for this.”

Barnett went on to note that he would like the full city council to revisit the city’s sex offender ordinance.

“I’ve asked the city administrator to help me get that on the agenda so we can talk about it in the future,” he said.

Several adjacent property owners also spoke during the public hearing.

Tom Hittle told the panel that he and his wife, Yvette, chose to build on Woodland Drive due to the family-friendly atmosphere,

“We purposely chose to settle in the City of Rhinelander on Woodland Drive because we wanted to be part of a community, we wanted to part of the city, part of a true neighborhood where our family could build relationships with our neighbors and our kids would have the opportunity to have friends close by,” he said.

“Neighborhoods where families interact, where they can be part of safe community, we believe are an important part of a municipality,” he added. “We feel Rhinelander should be looking to encourage this rather than promoting short-term, transient housing...”

“We’re asking you to consider that there are differences in neighborhoods in Rhinelander and that some may be more or less suited to short-term rentals and that Woodland Drive is not one of those that is suited for this,” he added. “We’re asking you to consider and value the integrity of our city neighborhoods and the worth that these bring to the City of Rhinelander now and into the future.”

Brandon Karaba started his remarks by noting that the applicant, Jolene Kopplin, and her husband, Kevin, are “amazing people” and good neighbors.

“When it comes to short-term rentals, my opinion is that we don’t know these folks, they’re not going to be part of this community,” he continued.

This is in direct contrast to those currently residing on Woodland Drive who are known to their neighbors and who have made a commitment to be part of a close-knit community, he added.

He suggested a potential compromise wherein an individual operating a short-term rental would be required to perform background checks on anyone over the age of 18 who is to reside in the home to ensure they are not a registered sex offender.

“That’s just a compromise that I though of,” he said.

After her neighbors spoke, Jolene Kopplin approached the mic. 

She stressed that she did not anticipate that her idea to operate her family’s Woodland Drive property as a short-term rental would cause controversy but does not blame her neighbors for asking questions.

She began by detailing the history of the house as both a private residence and a rental.

For the last several years, after her family moved out, Kopplin said she has been renting the home to professionals in need of longer-term temporary housing, always with a minimum lease of one year. All of her tenants have been either medical professionals, business executives or military personnel, she added, noting that she has a “very rigorous screening process” for tenants and doesn’t show the house unless a prospective tenant can meet a very high income requirement.

“In consideration for safety and enjoyment of the neighborhood, I’ve always kept to very high standards,” she explained. “Because I used to live in the neighborhood, and because I’m keeping this home as a potential future retirement (older age) home, it is of the utmost importance to me that this home and property always remain in great condition, and to never be a negative detractor to the neighborhood either by physical appearance or the behavior of guests/tenants staying there,” she wrote in an attachment to her permit application. “I have always, and will continue, to enforce very high standards requiring that guests/tenants do not disturb neighbors or detract from enjoyment of the neighborhood in any way. My agreements have, and will continue to stipulate a quiet time, rules of conduct, rules of safety, and rules of cleanliness of the property.”

“As far as safety concerns, I really hear that,” she told the commission. “I’m a mom too and my kids lived in that neighborhood and I appreciated the safety.”

She also suggested it’s not fair to presume that those who would choose to stay at an Airbnb as part of a Northwoods vacation are of lesser character than someone who enters into a one-year lease.

“I don’t think you can presume that a family that’s there on vacation would be any less quality (than a longer-term renter),” she said.

After Kopplin spoke, Yvette Hittle clarified that she believes her neighbor is sincere in her intentions but warned that approving this permit could set a precedent.

“If we allow a short-term rental for one person then that opens it up for other people in the neighborhood to do that and suddenly the neighborhood has changed,” she said, referring to it as a potential “Pandora’s Box.”

A petition with 42 signatures was also submitted to the commission, she added.

After the public hearing was closed, zoning director Veronica Tonnancour offered her input.

She reported that application does meet the performance standards set forth by the city, however the commission is free to add additional conditions if it wishes.

She also noted that there are currently eight short-term rentals operating in the City of Rhinelander and thus far there have been no complaints associated with them. 

When Mayor Kris Hanus asked if he had anything to add to the discussion, city administrator Patrick Reagan suggested seeking legal advice.

“I agree with Patrick 100 percent,” commissioner Terry Williams responded. “I’m not necessarily against this, and I do think that the city has set some precedents with Airbnbs around the city, but I think there’s some unique concerns from the neighborhood...”

Commissioner Carrie Mikalauski seconded the idea, noting that further research as to how other cities handle short-term rentals within school zones would be helpful.

Hanus ultimately made the motion to table.

The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for April 2.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].