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Home My WebLink About031825 email - Short Term Rental Homeowner CommentsALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. Dear Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, We are writing to express our strong opposition to the proposed short-term rental restrictions on Jefferson County homeowners. Our family owns a home in Jefferson County (Port Ludlow) that we love and enjoy throughout the year, with plans to hopefully retire there in the not too distant future. As a kid, I grew up visiting my grandparents' 1 room 400 sqft beach cabin off Olele Point in Port Ludlow and have some of the best memories out on their property and beach. I wanted to create the same opportunities for my family; creating new memories of our own, but like many middle-class homeowners, the cost of obtaining our little slice of this American Dream seemed far out of reach. Thanks to my prior military service and ability to obtain VA financing on our home, we managed to scrape and claw enough assets together to make this dream a reality. With the ability to short term rental our home, we were able to make the dream of having our very own beach home a reality. Without the option to Airbnb the home, we would not have felt financially comfortable enough to make the leap in purchasing the home. We rely and have relied on short-term rentals to help with mortgage payments, maintenance costs, and the general upkeep of the property when we cannot occupy the home ourselves. These new restrictions as proposed by the planning commission would make it nearly impossible for us to continue using our home as we intended. Everyone can admit that housing affordability is a problem in Jefferson County and many outside observers feel that “businesses and investors” snatching up properties are low hanging fruit for fixing the problem. I assure you my family and many like it do not fit the narrative of who these restrictions will impact the most. Listening to the planning commission, their proposals seemed driven by anecdotal stories of STRs and strongly influenced by the affordable housing group rather than making recommendations off data driven analysis. My home and many STRs like it would in no way help or alleviate the housing affordability problem. A quick search on Airbnb or similar platforms will show you the homes that most people are renting for STRs in Jefferson County would be considered luxury properties that would fall well above the median home price for Jefferson County. Many of these luxury and waterfront properties would never be put into the long-term rental pool to alleviate housing affordability and instead, most of them would sit vacant and unused for much of the year. If the purpose of STR restrictions was to help alleviate the housing shortage and provide a more affordable long-term rental pool of homes, surely a check on median assessed values of these STR properties should have been looked at by the planning commission, but it was not. If they looked at the median assessed values of these homes on Airbnb, they would see the majority of homes are well above the median price point and doesnt fit the narrative people are seeking to address housing affordability for full time residents of Jefferson County. Our home would be considered one of these luxury waterfront properties, meaning it would not contribute to affordable housing stock if converted into a long-term rental. If forced into long-term rental viability, our home would likely sit vacant for much of the year, decreasing tax and tourism revenue for the county, or we would simply have to sell to someone more wealthy than ourselves who can afford to have it sit vacant when they are not using it. Instead, by operating as a short-term rental, we keep our home actively used while providing year-round income for our local house cleaners, landscapers, handymen, and other maintenance workers who all live in Jefferson County. Additionally, we encourage our guests to support local businesses, restaurants, and shops, contributing significantly to the local economy. Removing STRs or limiting them, would in turn be limiting the prosperity of these businesses and residents of Jefferson County as well as a significant loss in B&O and other taxes being collected by STR platforms such as Airbnb. The county has acknowledged that over 400+ unpermitted short-term rentals are currently operating and platforms such as Airbnb are contributing and collecting lodging and other taxes for the county, yet there are only ~ 29 active STR permits currently operating that the planning commission staff could identify in Jefferson County. Many permit holders speaking at the planning commission meetings talked about the lengthy and expensive process to be compliant (6-9 months for obtaining permits with various agency input; fire, building, etc.). With the need to permit so many STRs into compliance, I feel the path to permitting needs to be streamlined for the constrained bandwidth the county seems to have in timely permitting/enforcing these properties. I think all responsible and reasonable STR homeowners support some form of safety compliance operating as good neighbors and stewards for their guests. Safety concerns should be a priority, respectful neighbors, and ensuring compliance but also providing homeowners the freedom to utilize their properties fairly. Given the ongoing moratorium on new short-term rental permits, it only seems fair that homeowners who have been responsibly operating during this moratorium period be given a pathway to compliance. Many STR homeowners did not know permitting was required, only that a business license from the state was needed. Airbnb has been very proactive the past 4 months in updating platform users of the proposed changes coming to Jefferson County. A grandfathering clause and a reasonable window to properly register and permit homes as short-term rentals should be included in any new regulations. Punishing existing homeowners who have been following the rules—or who have had no legal avenue to permit their homes due to the moratorium—is neither practical nor fair. In the news release of the STR moratorium back in April 2024, DCD Director Josh Peters indicated that following adoption of any new rules, there would be a grace period for operators of vacation rental businesses to apply for hospitality establishment permits before initiation of an enforcement program. I feel this needs to be explicitly outlined for those looking to comply with any proposed changes and opportunity to be grandfathered in from future permitting requirement renewals. Rather than implementing overly restrictive policies that hurt responsible homeowners, I urge the BoCC to consider balanced solutions that promote accountability without unnecessarily harming families and the local economy. Thank you for your time and consideration. My family and I love Jefferson County and want to continue being responsible stewards of our home while contributing to the community. Please be mindful of any restrictions you are considering and instead look to adopt policies that fairly balance the needs of all stakeholders. Sincerely, Lanae Miner & Blake Budden AAwQQIAAEBAEgAAgD8WyqIpOxQA4JBEGgDAgEQcqIFjPx4AwIBEIKiBYz8iAAD8QiSppd49JgAA/EIoqaXePe4BAACAPzQAAIA/Nowuuj04AADgQDq66CI/PAAA4EA+uugiP0AAAEBAQumiiz5EAABAQEbpoos+KgAAGUMsAAAZQy4AACBCMAAAIEJIAAAEQkoAAARC TAAAQEFOAABAQQAZaABvAHMAcABpAHQAYQBsAGkAdAB5ACAAZQBzAHQAYQBiAGwAaQBzAGgAbQBlAG4AdADHCmGgH8HNFBAHIbAiAACAPzIAADBBAgAAAEASAACAPxZjLuI6FADgkEQaAICBRBzu1GQ/HgCAgUQg7tRkPyIAAPJCJNnP1T0mAADyQijZz9U97gEAAIA /NAAAgD82jC66PTgAAOBAOrroIj88AADgQD666CI/QAAAQEBC6aKLPkQAAEBARumiiz4qAAAfQywAAB9DLgAADEIwAAAMQkgAABxCSgAAHEJMAADgQE4AAOBAAAppAG4AaQB0AGkAYQB0AGkAbwBuAMcKQFibwM0UEAchsCIAAIA/MgAAMEECAACAPxIAAIA/FmMuYj oUAOCQRBoAAIJEHBy3ZT8eAACCRCAct2U/IgAA7EIkw4LQPSYAAOxCKMOC0D3uAQAAgD80AACAPzaMLro9OAAA4EA6uugiPzwAAOBAPrroIj9AAABAQELpoos+RAAAQEBG6aKLPioAACNDLAAAI0MuAAAAQjAAAABCSAAALEJKAAAsQkwAAIBATgAAgEAAE2UAbgBmA G8AcgBjAGUAbQBlAG4AdAAgAHAAcgBvAGcAcgBhAG0AxwrL2BvBzRQQBx+wIgAAgD8yAAAwQQIAAABAEgAAgD8WYy7iOhQA4JBEGgBggkQcv2BmPx4AYIJEIL9gZj8iAADkQiRQcck9JgAA5EIoUHHJPe4BAACAPzQAAIA/Nowuuj04AADgQDq66CI/PAAA4EA+uugi P0AAAEBAQumiiz5EAABAQEbpoos+KgAAJkMsAAAmQy4AAOBBMAAA4EFIAAA4QkoAADhCACBwAHIAbwBwAG8AcwBlAGQAIABjAGgAYQBuAGcAZQBzACAAYQBuAGQAIABvAHAAcABvAHIAdAB1AG4AaQB0AHkAxwqjUlfBzRQQByGwIgAAgD8yAAAwQQIAAIBAEgAAgD8 WYy5iOxQA4JBEGgCAhEQcBCJqPx4AgIREIAQiaj8iAAC+QiRt3qc9JgAAvkIobd6nPe4BAACAPzQAAIA/Nowuuj04AADgQDq66CI/PAAA4EA+uugiP0AAAEBAQumiiz5EAABAQEbpoos+KgAAN0MsAAA3Qy4AABBBMAAAEEFIAABwQUoAAHBBTAAAEEFOAAAQQQAdZg B1AHQAdQByAGUAIABwAGUAcgBtAGkAdAB0AGkAbgBnACAAcgBlAHEAdQBpAHIAZQBtAGUAbgB0AMcKKhJJwc0UEAchsCIAAIA/MgAAMEECAABAQBIAAIA/FsqiKTsUAOCQRBoAoIVEHOwebD8eAKCFRCDsHmw/IgAArkIkh7uZPSYAAK5CKIe7mT3uAQAAgD80AACAP zaMLro9OAAA4EA6uugiPzwAAOBAPrroIj9AAABAQELpoos+RAAAQEBG6aKLPioAAEBDLAAAQEMuAACAPzAAAIA/SAAAwEFKAADAQUwAAIA/TgAAgD8ACHIAZQBuAGUAdwBhAGwAcwDHCqrfjsDNFBAHHbAiAACAPzIAADBBAgAAgD8SAACAPxZjLmI6FADgkEQaAACG RByPyGw/HgAAhkQgj8hsPyIAAKxCJCr3lz0mAACsQigq95c97gEAAIA/NAAAgD82jC66PTgAAOBAOrroIj88AADgQD666CI/QAAAQEBC6aKLPkQAAEBARumiiz4qAABDQywAAENDSAAA2EFKAADYQQAIcABvAGwAaQBjAGkAZQBzAMcK/pCPwM0UEAchsCIAAIA/MgA AMEECAACAPxIAAABAFmMu4joUAOCQRBoAwIZEHNUbbj8eAPCKRCAZgnU/IgAAUEEksMU3PCYAADpCKLRVJD3uAQAAAEA0AACAPzaMLro9OAAAAEE6jC46PzwAAABBPowuOj9AAAAAQEKMLjo+RAAAAEBGjC46PioAAKBALAAAoEAuAAAAQTAAAABBSAAAoEBKAAAYQU wAAABBTgAAeEEAFnIAZQBzAHAAbwBuAHMAaQBiAGwAZQAgAGgAbwBtAGUAbwB3AG4AZQByAHMAxwpJAx/BzRQQByGwIgAAgD8yAAAwQQIAAABAEgAAgD8WYy7iOhQA4JBEGgAgh0Qcd8VuPx4AIIdEIHfFbj8iAACYQiSKS4Y9JgAAmEIoikuGPe4BAACAPzQAAIA/N owuuj04AAAAQTqMLjo/PAAAAEE+jC46P0AAAABAQowuOj5EAAAAQEaMLjo+KgAAAEEsAAAAQS4AAI5CMAAAjkJIAAAAQUoAAABBTAAAmEFOAACYQQAEYgBvAGMAYwDHCgdrDsDNFBAHI7AiAACAPzIAADBBAgAAgD8SAACAPxZjLmI6FADgkEQYAACAPxoAwIdEHDHg bz8eAMCHRCAx4G8/IgAAkEIkL3R+PSYAAJBCKC90fj3sAQAAgD/uAQAAgD80AACAPzaMLro9OAAAAEE6jC46PzwAAABBPowuOj9AAAAAQEKMLjo+RAAAAEBGjC46PioAAFBBLAAAUEEuAACGQjAAAIZCSAAAUEFKAABQQUwAAHBBTgAAcEEAEmIAYQBsAGEAbgBjAGU AZAAgAHMAbwBsAHUAdABpAG8AbgBzAMcKgPsewc0UEAchsCIAAIA/MgAAMEECAAAAQBIAAIA/FmMu4joUAOCQRBoAIIhEHNSJcD8eACCIRCDUiXA/IgAAiEIkSVFwPSYAAIhCKElRcD3uAQAAgD80AACAPzaMLro9OAAAAEE6jC46PzwAAABBPowuOj9AAAAAQEKMLj o+RAAAAEBGjC46PioAAIBBLAAAgEEuAAB8QjAAAHxCSAAAgEFKAACAQUwAADBBTgAAMEEADmEAYwBjAG8AdQBuAHQAYQBiAGkAbABpAHQAeQDHCkDKmsDNFBAHIbAiAACAPzIAADBBAgAAgD8SAACAPxZjLmI6FADgkEQaAKCIRBwDbHE/HgCgiEQgA2xxPyIAAIJCJ By3ZT0mAACCQigct2U97gEAAIA/NAAAgD82jC66PTgAAABBOowuOj88AAAAQT6MLjo/QAAAAEBCjC46PkQAAABARowuOj4qAACgQSwAAKBBLgAAcEIwAABwQkgAAKBBSgAAoEFMAAAAQU4AAABBAAhmAGEAbQBpAGwAaQBlAHMAxwrP6JrAzRQQByGwIgAAgD8yAAAw QQIAAIA/EgAAgD8WYy5iOhQA4JBEGgAgiUQcMU5yPx4AIIlEIDFOcj8iAAB0QiQ2lFc9JgAAdEIoNpRXPe4BAACAPzQAAIA/Nowuuj04AAAAQTqMLjo/PAAAAEE+jC46P0AAAABAQowuOj5EAAAAQEaMLjo+KgAAwEEsAADAQS4AAGBCMAAAYEJIAADAQUoAAMBBTAA AgEBOAACAQAANYwBvAG4AcwBpAGQAZQByAGEAdABpAG8AbgDHCogrkMDNFBAHH7AiAACAPzIAADBBAgAAgD8SAACAPxZjLmI6FADgkEQaAICKRBwxvHQ/HgCAikQgMbx0PyIAAEhCJD20MD0mAABIQig9tDA97gEAAIA/NAAAgD82jC66PTgAAABBOowuOj88AAAAQT 6MLjo/QAAAAEBCjC46PkQAAABARowuOj4qAAAMQiwAAAxCLgAANEIwAAA0QkgAAMBASgAAwEAAFHIAZQBzAHAAbwBuAHMAaQBiAGwAZQAgAHMAdABlAHcAYQByAGQAcwDHCgmwIcHNFBAHIbAiAACAPzIAADBBAgAAAEASAACAPxZjLuI6FADgkEQaACCMRBxHm3c/H gAgjEQgR5t3PyIAABBCJC90/jwmAAAQQigvdP487gEAAIA/NAAAgD82jC66PTgAAABBOowuOj88AAAAQT6MLjo/QAAAAEBCjC46PkQAAABARowuOj4qAABAQiwAAEBCLgAA+EEwAAD4QUgAAEBBSgAAQEFMAAAAQU4AAABBAAxzAHQAYQBrAGUAaABvAGwAZABlAHIA cwDHCvp/eMDNFBAHHbAiAACAPzIAADBBAgAAgD8SAACAPxZjLmI6FADgkEQaACCQRBy6rH4/HgAgkEQguqx+PyIAAKBAJP5cjTsmAACgQCj+XI077gEAAIA/NAAAgD82jC66PTgAAABBOowuOj88AAAAQT6MLjo/QAAAAEBCjC46PkQAAABARowuOj4qAACgQiwAAKB CSAAAsEFKAACwQQAA", "@type": "KeyPhraseExtraction", "@context": "http://schema.microsoft.com", "@EntityId": "0c6730da-51b0-43e4-831b-ea0854b89b7c", "@extractionTimeUtc": "2025-03-18T22:10:07.1936536Z" } ]