The authorization is set to expire after 90 days. Allowing Smith to continue operating the rental would require the city to adopt a new ordinance or otherwise change its regulations rather than simply extend the FIFA permit.

Smith told commissioners the trial had gone smoothly and asked the city to consider allowing a limited number of short-term rentals in the downtown historic and commercial districts without requiring an owner or manager to remain on the property overnight.

She said her guests had been respectful of the building and surrounding businesses and that she had received no complaints about noise, parking or disruptive behavior.

“People are truly coming to Weston for the whole experience,” Smith said. “They want to know about the history. They want to do the shopping and dining. They want to go out to the parks.”

Smith said one recent group included three couples who stayed for three nights. Based on her conversations with them, she estimated each couple spent at least an additional $500 in Weston beyond the cost of lodging.

The estimate was not independently verified, but Smith said the group illustrated the potential economic benefit of keeping visitors in Weston overnight rather than sending them to hotels in Leavenworth, Platte City or near Kansas City International Airport.

Although the program was created in anticipation of FIFA visitors, Smith said none of her guests so far had been connected to the tournament.

In a separate interview, Smith said she still hoped the World Cup would introduce Weston to domestic travelers who drive to Kansas City for games and explore the surrounding region. Visitors who discover Weston during the tournament could become repeat customers, she said.

So far, the FIFA program has functioned less as a direct source of bookings for Smith than as a test of whether a downtown short-term rental can operate without an owner or manager on-site.

Commissioners generally agreed that the issue deserved further study but raised concerns about unintended consequences if the city expanded short-term rentals without clear limits.

City Clerk Sherry Merz said City Hall receives between one and three calls a month from real estate agents asking whether Weston allows short-term rentals. She said one recent property listing advertised the possibility of using a house as a short-term rental because of FIFA, even though the property was outside the area covered by the temporary ordinance.

Commissioners said a permanent ordinance could encourage outside investors to purchase houses for visitor lodging, reducing the number of homes available to residents. They also discussed enforcement, noise, parking and the need to preserve affordable housing for families with children attending the local school.

Smith said she did not support allowing unrestricted short-term rentals throughout Weston’s residential neighborhoods.

Instead, she suggested beginning with three or four licenses, limiting them to designated downtown zoning districts and regularly reviewing each operation. She also suggested requiring owners to maintain a primary residence in Platte County or within a set distance of Weston to discourage corporate ownership.

“I don’t want a bunch of corporations coming here and buying houses,” Smith said.

Other possible requirements discussed by commissioners included minimum distances between rentals, occupancy limits, safety inspections, business licenses, local contacts and reviews of applicants’ operating plans.

Commissioners considered asking the Board of Aldermen to appoint a separate steering committee but ultimately determined that the Planning and Zoning Commission could conduct the initial review. The commission plans to use its July meeting to work through proposed revisions and develop a recommendation for the board.

The discussion followed several months of work on bed-and-breakfast and temporary short-term rental regulations. Commissioners said they wanted to replace repeated requests for individual exceptions with clearer rules that distinguish between residential neighborhoods and the downtown business district.

Citywide planning tied to 2037 bicentennial

The short-term rental debate came as commissioners renewed their push for an updated comprehensive plan addressing Weston’s long-term land use, development and preservation goals.

The city’s existing comprehensive plan was approved Oct. 28, 2002. Commissioners said an updated plan could help the city determine what residents want Weston to look like as it approaches its bicentennial in 2037.

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to send a draft request for qualifications to the Board of Aldermen and ask the board to identify possible funding for the planning process. The city’s recently approved 1% sales tax was mentioned as one possible source, although no funding was committed during the meeting.

The proposed comprehensive plan is separate from the Planning Sustainable Places grant application the city submitted June 22.

That grant would fund a more limited study of the Missouri 45 corridor between routes H and P. Possible issues include pedestrian crossings, sidewalks, traffic speeds and safer connections between downtown Weston and subdivisions along the corridor.

Commission members emphasized that the corridor study would address one section of the community, while the comprehensive plan would take a broader look at housing, transportation, commercial development, historic preservation and future land use throughout the city.

The long-range planning effort could also complement the Weston Historical Museum’s bicentennial preparations.

Museum President Clay Bauske presented “Weston Vision 2037,” a video outlining the museum’s goal of improving its collections, exhibits, programs and physical space before the city’s 200th anniversary.

The museum expects to develop a major capital campaign around that vision. Bauske encouraged other community organizations to develop their own bicentennial projects so the anniversary reflects a coordinated community effort rather than a single celebration.

Commission members noted that the museum’s vision and the city’s proposed comprehensive plan share the same timeline. The planning proposal has been framed as “Project 2037,” creating an opportunity to align decisions about land use, preservation, infrastructure and tourism with the museum’s work to preserve and tell Weston’s history.

New commission leadership

Tim Penrod was elected commission chair, succeeding Megan Jantos, who chose not to seek another term as chair as she takes on new professional endeavors.

Beth McPherson was elected vice chair, and Glenna Nance was elected secretary. The officers will serve the closely connected Planning and Zoning and Historic Preservation commissions.

Penrod said he was looking forward to the position. Jantos said she would continue serving the community in other ways.

In other business, the Historic Preservation Commission approved proposed exterior changes at Makery Market, 523 Main St., while recommending that the owner consult a preservation or masonry expert before painting the building’s historic brick. The commission also approved hanging and window signs for The Weston Ice House at 710 Thomas St.

City Hall hiring update

Merz said the city is interviewing candidates for a part-time City Hall position. She said the interviews were going well and that officials expect to present a candidate to the Board of Aldermen for consideration at its next meeting.