Residents, workers urge Cannon Beach to cap short‑term rentals as housing crunch deepens

Dozens of Cannon Beach residents and small business owners used the meeting’s public comment period to press the City Council to cap short‑term rentals, saying the town’s workforce and long‑term residents are being priced out.

Michelle Balaguera, who said she received a 6% rent increase, argued the city should prioritize long‑term welfare over profit: “The government should not be run like a business because its primary goals, public welfare, and equity rather than financial profit,” she said. Local business owners and employees echoed that view; Jacob Bond said, “Cannon Beach isn't a community anymore. It has become a theme park,” and urged the council to adopt limits that would help employees live here year‑round.

Speakers — including hospitality workers, longtime residents and property owners — connected the STR issue to the broader housing package on the council’s agenda. Several commenters asked the council to overturn a recent planning commission decision and to make an STR cap an immediate priority; staff and council members confirmed the topic will be on the Aug. 11 agenda for further discussion.

The public comments underscored recurring themes in Cannon Beach’s housing debate: loss of long‑term rentals, pressure on wages versus housing costs, and community character. Councilors heard personal examples (rent notices, commuting employees) and requests for concrete next steps, including a cap on new STR licenses and further enforcement and incentives for long‑term rentals. The council did not take final action on an STR cap at the Aug. 6 meeting; members asked staff to return with ordinance language and carry the STR discussion into upcoming meetings.