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Westerly council moves housing items forward and schedules short‑term rental workshop
Summary
Council referred senior housing site reviews to the Housing Authority, directed drafting of term‑limits for the Housing Authority, and agreed to a July workshop and a small working group to develop short‑term rental registration or limits.
The Westerly Town Council moved several housing items forward June 22, referring senior housing site review to the Westerly Housing Authority, approving a resolution to draft term‑limit language for the Housing Authority, and scheduling further work on short‑term rental rules.
Councilors discussed an ongoing shortage of year‑round housing and the presence of many short‑term rental units. One councilor observed that the town’s inventory included a high number of short‑term listings and urged action to return units to year‑round occupancy. Councilor Shalaba said the town currently has "401" short‑term rentals on record and urged a working approach to reduce pressure on housing stock.
For senior housing (item 8F) the council referred potential sites — including parcels near Tower Street and sites behind the bus garage — to the Housing Authority for evaluation. On the Housing Authority itself, the council approved drafting a resolution to propose term limits for appointed members and to forward that proposal to the state for any required statutory change.
On short‑term rentals (item 8G) the council agreed to a July workshop. A small three‑person working group (two councilors plus the town solicitor) will prepare draft options and legal analysis; any proposal will be returned to the full council for public discussion and possible ordinance drafting.
