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Town attorney says cease-and-desist stopped fractional time-share solicitation
Summary
Mayor and the town attorney reported staff acted to halt an apparent fractional time-share solicitation; a cease-and-desist letter was issued and the listing was removed from local listings.
Mayor Foley told the council the town had identified what the planning and zoning commission described as a potential solicitation for homeowners to participate in a fractional time-share scheme, distinct from short-term rentals and prohibited by local ordinance.
Town Attorney Robert Sweeney told council he issued a cease-and-desist letter to the homeowner, the third-party entity and the listing real-estate agency. Sweeney said the homeowner contacted him immediately after receiving the notice and arranged to remove the listing; as of the most recent check Tuesday there were no active listings within town limits.
Sweeney and the mayor characterized the action as preventive: the town has an ordinance that prohibits time shares and the planning and zoning commission alerted staff. Sweeney said the phenomenon is seen in other Florida municipalities and recommended staying vigilant and sharing information with peer municipalities that have taken action, including Miami Beach and Palm Beach Island.
No formal enforcement action beyond the cease-and-desist letter was recorded at the meeting; the attorney said staff will continue to monitor for similar listings and to coordinate with planning and zoning.
