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Lunenburg Planning Commission prioritizes transient occupancy tax and subdivision updates for 2022
Summary
Chairman James Tharpe told commissioners the county should examine transient occupancy tax rules, noting some operators are collecting fees but not remitting them; the commission also flagged new lodging types and a Subdivision Ordinance review as 2022 priorities.
Chairman James Tharpe said the Planning Commission will focus in 2022 on a package of policy updates that include addressing transient occupancy tax collection, dedicating funds for tourism, and reviewing subdivision rules.
Tharpe told commissioners that some companies are collecting transient occupancy taxes but are not remitting them to Lunenburg County because no ordinance is yet in place. He said the commission should consider a policy that "anything collected above 2% would be delegated specifically for a tourism budget." Commissioner Pennington expressed support for establishing the rule sooner rather than later.
Tharpe also flagged changes in lodging and recreation—"glamping, wilderness camping, RV hook-up, etc."—as growing trends that the commission will need to examine. Commissioner Trent noted he is serving on the committee addressing updates to the Subdivision Ordinance. The discussion identified the need to draft or revise local ordinances so the county can collect and allocate fees consistently.
The commission did not adopt any ordinance language at this meeting; members directed further review and committee work as next steps.
