Parking Concerns Shape Eureka Planning Decisions on Vacation Rental and Cannabis Shop

EUREKA, Calif. – Parking and neighborhood impact were central themes at the Eureka Planning Commission's special meeting on Tuesday, where commissioners unanimously approved a new cannabis dispensary on Broadway and a contentious vacation rental on East Avenue, the latter with a significant new condition.

East Avenue Vacation Rental Approved with Parking Mandate

A proposal to convert a single-family home at 1110 East Avenue into a short-term vacation rental drew pointed criticism from neighbors during a public hearing. The plan called for renting the three-bedroom, 1,175-square-foot residence without a proprietor on-site.

City staff reported that vacation rentals currently constitute about 1.5% of Eureka's total housing stock. However, residents who spoke at the meeting voiced concerns that went beyond statistics.

One neighbor living directly behind the property worried about potential overcrowding and the safety hazards on what she described as a very crowded and narrow street with significant alley traffic. Another resident, speaking via Zoom, argued against absentee-owner rentals, citing a loss of community connection, a strain on local infrastructure, and the negative economic impact of rental income leaving the area.

"We must advocate for policies that protect our communities, ensuring that they remain vibrant, cohesive and livable for the residence, the people who actually live here," the speaker urged.

Commissioners acknowledged the validity of the concerns, noting they have relayed similar feedback to the Eureka City Council. Development Services Director Cristin Kenyon, attending remotely, informed the commission that while the City Council has not prioritized a city-wide update to vacation rental policy, she is actively working to include amendments in a future zoning code update.

Ultimately, the commission's decision hinged on a specific finding related to infrastructure. Commissioner Lazar pointed out that the narrowness of East Avenue presented unique circumstances. "This is not like every other normal right-of-way in the city," he stated, arguing that the site was not adequately served by existing infrastructure for the proposed use.

To address this, he proposed a condition requiring the applicant to create one off-street parking space accessible from the rear alley. An associate of the applicant, who will serve as the local contact, said the owner was willing to consider the addition.

The commission voted 4-0 to approve the minor use permit with the added condition that the off-street parking space be developed.

Broadway Cannabis Shop Gets Green Light

The commission also unanimously approved a conditional use permit for a new cannabis retail store, "Black Market," in a long-vacant building at 2235 Broadway.

The project plans to utilize the existing structure with no new parking proposed, which is allowable under city code for a change in use of an existing commercial building. However, Caltrans submitted comments expressing concern about the lack of on-site parking and noted that future improvements under the Broadway Multimodal Corridor Plan could eliminate on-street parking in the area to make way for a bike lane.

In a rare turn for a public hearing, the owner of the adjacent property spoke in strong support of the application.

"I am a big fan of improving this part of Broadway, and I'm glad to see someone making a private capital investment to improve this property," said the neighboring owner. He added that the new business's likely improvements to lighting and security would also benefit his property, which has experienced chronic burglaries.

Commissioners praised the neighbor for his supportive comments. While acknowledging the long-term parking challenges identified by Caltrans, they ultimately found that the project met all necessary requirements. The permit was approved 4-0 with conditions acknowledging the potential future loss of street parking.

The meeting began with a roll call of the four commissioners present and the pulling of a General Plan Conformance Review for a county acquisition at 430-500 Broadway from the agenda.