CANNON BEACH – In light of public comments about short-term rental policies, Cannon Beach planning commissioners are rolling up their sleeves.

The city hosted an open house Friday as a kickoff to discussion about refining short-term rental policies. Planning commissioners plan to schedule their own discussions Thursday – possibly up to three meetings in August – to develop initial recommendations to the city council, City Planner Rainmar Bartl said Tuesday.

At the open house, 14 residents voiced their views. “A majority spoke in favor of retaining the ability of people to short-term rent” of homes, through a city licensing process, he said. The policy allowing short-term rentals, which previously was extended, is scheduled to sunset in 2005.

The city has issued 94 licenses. Some residents spoke in favor of allowing additional licenses, possibly through a lottery system, Bartl said.

Others focused on what they thought were the impacts of short-term rental properties on neighbors. In the past, the operation of the rentals has been resisted by some observers as potentially disruptive commercial activity in residential areas.

Among areas of the policy to review, planning commissioners may look at the appropriateness of the definition of “short term” as 14 days, Bartl said.

Bartl has said he anticipated the process of reviewing and refining the policy to occur over the course of months.

The Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. Thursday in City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.