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Board reviews short-term rental bylaw draft; members raise exemptions, grandfathering and potential cap
Summary
The Planning Board discussed the draft short-term rental bylaw, including whether nonprofit "Art and Ecology" facilities would be exempt, that the Select Board will manage licenses, grandfathering of existing rentals, owner-occupied exemptions, and a suggestion to consider capping licenses.
During citizen comment and agenda discussion on Feb. 6, Jonathan Mirin asked whether cabins, yurts or tent platforms operated by his nonprofit Art and Ecology center would be exempt from the town's draft short-term rental bylaw. Board members said the draft targets non-owner-occupied single-family homes and noted that existing short-term rentals would be grandfathered.
Members said licensing will be handled by the Select Board and that owner-occupied short-term rentals appear to be exempt from the licensing requirement, which could free up licenses for others unless the town caps the total number. Several members said the board should consider whether the exemption language could inadvertently expand the number of short-term listings and discussed the possibility of setting a cap or otherwise limiting growth.
Member Lori Shulda-Merrigan proposed convening an all-boards meeting to review both the short-term rental draft and a separate abandoned-and-derelict housing bylaw so different boards can coordinate on overlapping concerns. Chair Bob Nelson said he would meet with Shulda-Merrigan to collect her additional concerns and forward them to the Select Board as formal feedback.
No license levels, cap values or final policy text were adopted during the meeting; members asked for further internal review and inter-board coordination.
