Residents say short-term rental amendment will limit local businesses, announce planned appeal

Residents filled the meeting's public-comment period to oppose a recent amendment to the town's short-term rental ordinance, saying it would curtail the ability of locals to operate and sell properties used as STRs. One resident said the change "now you're limiting somebody's ability to build their business and grow their business," and warned the limitation would reduce future sale prices and the marketability of houses.

Board members and committee participants defended the amendment as a response to safety complaints and rapid growth of STRs. The board chair summarized the committee's purpose: "This is what the town was asked to do," and said the ordinance is not intended to shut down existing STRs but to "attentuate or sort of make this happen a little bit slower." Committee members noted the initial year of the program collected data on the number of STRs and that registered properties would remain grandfathered under the proposal.

Speakers cited local counts during the exchange: one speaker noted about "90-something" STRs out of roughly "1,500" properties, and another board member referenced about "500 homesteads" in town. Several residents said their concern focused on the amendment specifically (the proposed transfer/registration restrictions), not on safety rules such as sleeping arrangements. One commenter announced: "We are gonna file an appeal of an action item to request a special hearing against this amendment itself." The chair and committee members invited residents to continue the discussion at the appeal or to participate in the working-group meetings that produced the draft.

The board did not adopt the amendment at this meeting; participants recorded a planned appeal and set the disagreement over the amendment for further formal review.