The Fayette Board of Aldermen last week gave unanimous approval to a zoning change to the B-1 Business District to allow for short-term rentals. The change will enable downtown building owners to rent up to 30% of ground-floor space for short-term stays, such as hotel and Airbnb-style rentals, provided the space is not street-facing.

The change was approved by the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission, and no objections were voiced at public hearings held by the city.

Parking for such short-term rentals will not be allowed on the square. Short-term is designated as 14 days or less.

One downtown property owner has been working on his buildings, hoping that a zoning change would generate revenue from ground-floor rentals. Dusty Vogt purchased the two southernmost buildings on the west side of the downtown square on Main Street. Over the last several months, he has made long-needed improvements to the buildings’ structures and told the city council he plans to create hotel rooms on the ground floor, with office space on the side facing the courthouse, along with upstairs apartments.

Vogt also recently purchased the neighboring building to the north that formerly housed Miknan’s Main Street Grill and TJ’s restaurant. He said he will construct second-floor apartments and plans to rent out the former restaurant space for events such as birthday parties, reunions, and wedding receptions.

The Fayette Board of Aldermen meets regularly at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month in City Hall. Meetings are open, agendas are published in advance, and the public is invited.