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Groton mayor asks council to form ad hoc committee to study short-term rental rules
Summary
Mayor Russ proposed an ad hoc committee made up of councilors, Planning & Zoning members and local short-term rental operators to review state rules, zoning and possible ordinances; the council agreed to move the referral to the Mayor & Council on Sept. 8.
Mayor Russ proposed creating an ad hoc committee to study how Groton should handle short-term rentals and to return recommendations to the council.
"I'd like to establish an ad hoc committee to include, at least 2 members of the council, 2 members of planning and zoning and, 2 members if we can find 2 members who are interested in in, who are short term rental owners or operators," Mayor Russ said, asking the group to investigate state regulations, local zoning and ordinance options.
The mayor asked the committee to determine whether the city should regulate short-term rentals and, if so, whether to do that by ordinance, zoning restrictions or by targeting specific behaviors. A member of the Planning & Zoning Commission provided a spreadsheet that Mayor Russ said showed about 43 listings ("42 in the town in the city and 1 pending").
Councilor Norris volunteered to serve; the mayor said nonresident owners could serve only as resources and that committee membership should include residents with a primary Groton address. A councilor recommended pursuing a local ordinance to provide a clearer, documented set of rules rather than relying solely on Planning & Zoning.
The council voted to send the ad hoc committee referral to the Mayor & Council meeting on Sept. 8; the motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
