HomeMy WebLinkAbout031925 - Public Comment - STR (Short Term Rentals)ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear Board of County Commissioners -
March 18, 2025
Jefferson County Tourism and Hospitality generates annually over $760,000 in transient rental sales tax (Fund 125) for Jefferson County. This includes STR’s (Short Term Rentals) offered
on platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO.
It is true that from Fort Flagler State Park on the east to Kalaloch Lodge on the west, that the impacts of climate change has reduced inventory of traditional lodging accommodations
within Jefferson County.
It is also true that until Brinnon’s Pleasant Harbor welcomes guests into – still unbuilt - accommodations, that the hotelier’s challenge to development in Jefferson County has not resulted
in new purpose-built transient accommodations construction in quite some time. Unfortunately, the developer of the Pomona Woods project in Port Hadlock has recently run out of patience
and capital for her long-sought retreat center enterprise. Leaving STR’s as the best way to add inventory to meet our steady demand for visitor accommodations.
AirDNA analytics categorizes STRs into three main property types and percentages of market:
* Entire Property: (~ 84%) The guest has full access to the entire property.
* Private Room: (~ 16%) The guest has a private bedroom but shares common areas with others.
* Shared Room: (< 0.5%) The guest shares both the bedroom and common areas with others.
It is generally observed that entire-property rentals constitute a significant majority of STR listings in the U.S., with private and shared rooms making up a smaller portion. Additionally,
information specifically distinguishing ADUs from other property types is not readily available in the AirDNA public data.
Source: https://www.airdna.co/blog/how-to-identify-the-best-type-of-property-for-airbnb <https://www.airdna.co/blog/how-to-identify-the-best-type-of-property-for-airbnb>
These percentages clearly indicate travelers’ preferences in lodging. Just as traditional B&B’s have fallen from favor, the majority of today’s travelers do not desire to be under the
same roof and share facilities with a stranger. Maintaining availability of Entire Property type STR’s is critical for both travelers and STR operators in Jefferson County.
There have not been any documented trends with Entire Property STR’s becoming problematic to neighbor parking or “party houses” anywhere around the entire Olympic Peninsula. Considerate
family travelers and individual couples are the predominant visitor personas coming to vacation on the Olympic Peninsula.
Jefferson Co. BoCC has already greatly reduced the traditional tourism promotional marketing through TCC (Tourism Coordinating Council). Please don’t reduce the largest segment of desired
STR inventory by restricting eligibility of Entire Property STR’s in Jefferson County.
Thank you –
Steve Shively, (Port Townsend, District 1)
Olympic Peninsula Gateway Visitor Information Center