The Dublin City Council overturned the Planning Commission’s January 27th ruling and unanimously approved Iroonet’s request to allow a boarding house in Dublin Ranch – with one catch. The approval is only good for one year and no more than 6 student boarders and the caretaker’s family will be permitted (for a total of 10 residents). This was a compromise from Iroonet’s original request to have 16 residents and conforms to the Dublin Ranch HOA’s permission to allow 6 student boarders. Iroonet also agreed to address the Planning Commission’s safety related concern to have the caretakers live inside the Dublin Ranch home.
This was a heated and controversial topic at the City Council meeting with 20+ residents in attendance – many that spoke against approving Iroonet’s request to operate the boarding house. Dublin Ranch HOA President Dave Kay noted that the R-1 single family residential designation in his community precluded the Council’s ability to approve the boarding house request. Other homeowners expressed their concern that Iroonet is operating a for-profit commercial enterprise and that this is forbidden by the Dublin Ranch HOA guidelines.
In their final deliberation, the Council approved the 1 year Conditional Use Permit (CUP) request for no more than 6 student boarders. The permit will expire in June 2010 and will be reevaluated next March.
