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Stonington short-term rental committee delivers recommendations; selectmen to start drafting local rules
Summary
A town short-term rental committee presented recommendations and a PowerPoint to the Selectmen outlining registration, fee and ordinance options. The board agreed to work with the committee on drafting documents and scheduling hearings this fall.
A short-term rental (STR) committee presented its findings and recommendations to the Stonington Selectmen, offering a framework to balance tourism and housing needs.
Committee members and economic development coordinator Linda Nelson reviewed distinctions between owner-occupied short-term rentals and absentee rental properties, summarized approaches other communities have taken (registration, fees, ordinance enforcement) and recommended next steps. The Selectmen thanked the committee and directed staff and the committee to begin drafting ordinances, registration forms and fee schedules for eventual public hearings.
Board members discussed concerns about impacts on year-round housing stock and emphasized that any approach should avoid penalizing providers of year-round rentals while addressing the loss of housing supply for residents. The Selectmen did not adopt a specific ordinance at the meeting but endorsed continuing the process toward formal hearings this fall.
