Residents and managers split over short-term rental cap — parking and workforce housing at center

Public testimony at the Cannon Beach Planning Commission's legislative hearing on Z O 26-01 highlighted sharply different priorities between residents and industry managers.

Residents described neighborhood parking congestion, noise incidents, and enforcement frustrations. One resident highlighted problems in Haystack Heights, noting weekend parking can reduce some streets to a single lane and impede emergency vehicles; another raised difficulty with code-enforcement thresholds when callers do not also call police. "There are cars on the street...we have 4 or 5 cars parked in front of a place," a resident said, framing parking and late-night disturbance as ongoing quality-of-life concerns.

Business representatives and some homeowners urged caution about adopting a fixed numerical cap. Sandy Dawson (S10), who said she manages more than 100 homes and employs more than 45 local people, warned that a low fixed cap could harm local jobs and asked the commission to consider a higher cap (200) or other tools. Jeff Shutt (S11) urged a percentage-based cap tied to housing stock and suggested dedicating STR tax revenue to workforce housing rather than relying on permit limits alone.

Many speakers suggested middle-ground policies — density or proximity buffers (e.g., 100 feet), percentage-based caps that adjust with housing growth, or changing the 14‑day measurement to "twice a month" to reduce annual visit counts while preserving flexibility. The mix of testimony informed the commission's recommended denial of the 165-cap ordinance and its request that council examine alternative measures.