The Hood River Municipal Planning Commission adopted draft recommendations for the regulation of short-term rentals, including a five-year amortization period for non-permanent resident occupied STR’s in residential areas with a goal of eliminating them in those locations.  The amortization period recommendation includes a hardship clause that would allow property owners to seek further relief from the City, and was approved on a 4-3 vote with Bill Irving, Casey Weeks, and Jodie Gates opposing after they tried different motions to extend the period to seven or ten years.  Pre-existing non-conforming properties would be determined by the use of the property from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015.  A number of opponents of the decision in the audience held up signs saying “Five years is not grandfathering.”  The planning panel did go back and vote to extend the number of days of allowable STR rentals by residents in the residential zone from sixty days to ninety, also on a 4-3 vote with Nate Devol, Will Smith, and Victor Pavlenko opposing.  The recommendations will go to the City Council for consideration, with a worksession to outline the planning commission work set for Wednesday at 6 p.m. in City Hall, and the first hearing on the land use questions on April 25.  A hearing on specific regulations for short-term rentals that are not part of the zoning work will take place on April 11.