Wells selectmen workshop narrows short‑term rental rules; key items left to staff

WELLS, Maine — Selectmen and staff spent the evening of Sept. 30 working through details of a proposed short‑term rental ordinance, moving toward rules that would limit some short‑term uses while leaving other questions — notably caps and allocation methods — for further study.

Why it matters: Board members said they want to protect public safety and neighborhood quality while preserving options for workers and property owners. The discussion covered owner contact/response expectations, which properties should be eligible, how to measure occupancy and safety, and whether to cap rentals outside the shoreline/tourist zone.

Board directions and agreed points - RVs and campers: The board agreed short‑term rental rules should prohibit RV parks and commercial campgrounds from being treated the same as private dwellings and should prevent someone from parking a camper in a private yard and offering it repeatedly as a short‑term rental. This was discussed as a restriction on the type of property that may be used as a short‑term rental. - ADUs: Selectmen confirmed accessory dwelling units (ADUs) would not be eligible for short‑term rental treatment under the town draft because the ADU definition the board is using requires six‑month minimum occupancy. That 6‑month threshold was discussed repeatedly as the mechanism that makes separate ADU exemptions unnecessary. - School‑zone checks: The board considered a prohibition or additional checks for properties within 1,000 feet of a school…