Port Royal council approves moratoria on short‑term rentals and multifamily development; forms review task force

Mayor Kevin Phillips and staff introduced a package of measures intended to pause approvals while the town updates its land‑use rules and evaluates short‑term rental (STR) impacts.

Council adopted ordinance 2024‑7, which imposes a temporary moratorium on new short‑term rental applications for a 210‑day period and alters inspection procedures for long‑term rentals. Council then passed ordinance 2024‑8 to stand up a public task force to review existing STR regulations and a contemplated 2019 draft ordinance, and approved ordinance 2024‑9 placing a moratorium on approvals for multifamily developments to allow the planning commission to perform code edits.

Residents who spoke during the meeting urged the council to refine the moratoria. Wendy Zara asked the council to "make an exception for affordable housing" with a single sentence stating that exemptions apply to projects in which "all of the units are built to accommodate people whose income does not exceed 100% of the area median income as calculated by HUD." Adam Catledge, a resident and STR operator, supported a moratorium but asked the council to consider a short transition period so owners who began the permitting process could complete it: "What I'm asking for you tonight is to consider possibly amending the current moratorium to allow for a 2‑week transition period for those that were that bought a property that were under the current policy and allow us to get a permit if we were working towards that."

Grant McClure of the Coastal Conservation League told the council the moratorium "buys critical time to comprehensively evaluate and manage growth," citing growth data and urging protections for sensitive landscapes; he also noted that exemptions for affordable housing projects were possible. Council members debated the size of the STR task force (five versus seven members), clarified that applicants who could show they had begun the permitting process would be heard by staff, and emphasized the moratoria were intended as a temporary pause so the planning commission and staff could complete code work and identify infrastructure impacts. Council framed the multifamily moratorium as a pause while approximately 1,500 units remain in various stages of planning.

All three ordinances were adopted by voice vote. Council members repeatedly stated the intent was to protect neighborhood character while allowing review of the code and options for affordable‑housing exemptions and variances through the planning commission and staff process. The council asked staff to accept proposed amendments and work with the planning commission and applicants as the review proceeds.