HomeMy WebLinkAbout032125 - STR commentALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Commissioners,
I had the opportunity to speak on Monday about the STR proposed changes. I am a land owner in Jefferson county with a soon to finish new home that will be our primary residence. As
our work schedule dictates, we will be renting our home out on short and medium term rentals. There is 0% chance this home will ever be a long term rental under our ownership.
Many of the periods of times we would have available to rent would not be the peak summer months. If a cap were introduced and our home was not able to secure one of the “allotted” permits
there would be 0 increase in affordable long term housing. The only losses would be to our personal income, the county portion of lodging tax and the decrease in availability of short
term rentals that could have been used for work housing, travel nurses etc.
I had brought up the idea of a 2nd tier permit for people in similar situations who could rent their homes part of the year as short term (60 total days) without allowing “professional
ABNB’ers” to adversely affect the housing market. As the draft ordinance is proposed, I would be against a general cap for the county. I can see no direct correlation between limiting
rentals like mine and creating any more affordable long term housing. The only net result would be decrease in county revenues and more vacant properties.
One last comment on the grandfathering of unlicensed STR prior to the moratorium: I want everyone in the county to be able to use their home as they see fit as long as they are good
neighbors and provide a safe and respectable product to consumers. Anyone that had a licensed STR before the moratorium should 100% be able to proceed into perpetuity with that endeavor.
That being said, I find it hard to give precedence to someone who had the opportunity for years to legally permit their STR. Why now that there is a cap should they be given priority?
The only truly fair way to administer this regulation is to allow a period where anyone can permit an STR.
Thank you for your time and I hope my thoughts have been cogent enough to convey my points.
Ross Foster