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WEST – After several weeks of working sessions and hearings, including a long one this week, city council adopted an ordinance aimed at regulating the short-term rental industry.
Council voted 6-1 Monday to pass the order after a 90-minute hearing and after making some last-minute changes. Work on an ordinance began several months ago when former chief executive J. Mark Rooney asked council to let him work with the city attorney to develop a proposed ordinance as a result of what there was said to be an increasing level of complaints regarding short-term rentals. Acting City Manager and Police Chief Shawn Lacey said a provision in the ordinance, which requires the registration and designation of a contact person or property manager, is needed by police. Having a list will allow city officials to “hold homeowners accountable if in fact there are problems,” Lacey said.
On Monday, the council reduced the annual registration fee to $ 50 and adjusted the wording of the ordinance to allow landlords to live in the city rather than having to live in the rented property. Homeowners can also use the services of a property management company. The council also amended the ordinance to clarify that short-term rentals will be permitted for residential purposes only and not for weddings or other events.
Rather than developing a set of rules and regulations strictly relating to short-term rental properties, the council decided to rely primarily on other ordinances, such as the one setting noise limits and the code of conduct. fire prevention which officials say sets occupancy limits.
On Monday, the council heard a series of comments. Some said the ordinance would punish homeowners who have rented their homes for years without a problem while others suggested a more restrictive approach to protect those who don’t rent their property and to maintain the neighborhood atmosphere.
Deborah Lamm, president and chairman of Watch Hill Conservancy, asked the board to consider imposing a one-week minimum for short-term rentals, saying shorter stays would present competition for hotels and motels. She also asked council to set a minimum age for rentals and set occupancy limits.
“You can really feel the difference between an area that is owner-occupied or has a stable rental population and a neighborhood that has a transient population,†Lamm said.
As a resident of Watch Hill, Lamm said, she knew owners of a property in the village who advertised their property for marriage.
Thomas Northup, who rents a property he owns for short stays, questioned the need for the previously proposed $ 100 annual fee, saying residents expected services in exchange for taxes and asked Council to revise the ordinance to target problem properties.
“I’m already paying for this service – I’m paying for the police to respond,” Northup said.
Ashaway resident Caroline Duksta, who owns a property she and her brother are offering for short stays in Westerly, wondered why she should have hired a property manager when she had successfully rented her out. property without problem for over 10 years. Income from the rental of the property is needed to pay the bills and “make ends meet,” she said.
“The community benefits from our rental property because it brings in tourism dollars to our city,†Duksta said.
A resident, Paula Ruisi, asked for a referendum question on the authorization of short-term rentals rather than an ordinance. She noted that a luxury hotel in town had been offering short-term rentals in its off-site “villas” for several years.
Councilor Philip Overton asked those who rent out their properties to view the practice as a privilege that allows commercial enterprise in a residential area. Councilor Caswell Cooke Jr. agreed and said he wasn’t sure the council should be persuaded by property owners who said they couldn’t afford the $ 100 fee or they would unable to pay their taxes without short-term rental income.
Councilor Suzanne Giorno, who voted against passing the ordinance, said the council’s initial goal was simply to develop a list to make sure the police know who to turn to in the event of a problem. . She also asked the council to change the ordinance to allow homeowners who live in neighboring towns to be exempt from the city’s residency clause or to be forced to hire a property manager. Residents of Ashaway or other neighboring municipalities can respond to issues as easily as city residents, she said.
The order can be changed in the future if problems arise, Councilor Brian McCuin said.
McCuin, Cooke, Overton and Councilors Sharon Ahern, Christopher Duhamel and Karen Cioffi voted to pass the ordinance.
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