The Planning Commission revisited proposed rules for short-term residential rentals (STRs), including the registration process, residency requirement for operators and the annual limit on days a dwelling may be used as a short‑term rental.

Staff presented a two-part approach: move the operator registry into the town code so registration and its state-code exemptions are separate from zoning, and simplify the zoning chapter to require a zoning permit (rather than a home‑occupation permit) and operator residency proof. Miss Newton explained the separation so an exemption from registration would not also imply an exemption from zoning standards: "the registration requirement is a separate requirement from your zoning permit."

Key elements of the draft discussed by the commission included: an operator-residency requirement (the draft used 185 days as a benchmark), a limit of one short‑term rental per parcel (and a lessee/sublessee limit of one rental in the jurisdiction), proofs of residency (driver’s license, utility bills, tax returns, or a signed certification), an administration model that places registry and zoning review under the zoning administrator, and separate penalty schemes (zoning violations carry a maximum $200 penalty; registry violations follow the state penalty amounts up to $500 per violation).

Commissioners debated the residency requirement and limits on rental days. Commissioner Bridal argued against a residency requirement, calling owner control of property a core right; other commissioners, including Vice Chair Campbell and multiple members, said residency helps preserve neighborhood character and reduces the risk of investor‑owned portfolios converting residential housing to effectively commercial operations.

The commission took two work‑session straw polls. First they agreed by majority to remove bracketed placeholder language around the 185‑day residency figure (work‑session action: consensus to leave the specific number open for staff revision). Second, on the annual limit for short‑term rental days the commission chose 90 days (straw poll outcome recorded by the chair: 90 days). Staff explicitly noted existing operators would not automatically be grandfathered "as it's currently written." Director David reiterated that registry administration will sit with the zoning administrator so applicants are informed of both registry and zoning requirements at one point of contact.

Next steps: staff will update the town code language that governs the registry, update the zoning permit provisions (operator definition, residency verification examples, ADU and operator limits), and return a revised draft reflecting the residency requirement and the 90‑day limit for further review and public hearing scheduling.