04-25-2016 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 11, 2016 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 26 of 32 16. #15-3759 CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT – SHORT-TERM (VACATION) RENTALS (continued) Mayor McMillan asked if there are any public comments. Don Knutson, 3125 Lafayette Ridge Court, stated he commends the City Council for addressing this issue. Knutson stated in 2006, three percent of the population was known to rent their property, and in 2016 that number jumped to 29 percent based on a Harvard study. Knutson stated he is only asking the Council change the minimum amount of time to 30 days. Knutson noted the neighbors have their own families and that this does impact their lives. In addition, appraisers have told him that his property values will be diminished if the home next to his is being rented out. Knutson stated his homeowners association sent out a questionnaire simply asking if the residents approve the idea of renting out their home and the majority stated they are not in favor of it. Knutson reiterated the only issue they are asking the City Council to do is to raise the amount of time to 30 days. Knutson stated he has a couple of questions. Knutson asked if someone rents a home, would that make it commercial and would it need to be made code compliant. Knutson stated Orono is a leader and that he bought his house because it is a nice community. A number of other communities are pushing it away and the rest are requiring a minimum of 30 days. The majority of the neighbors in the homeowners association said it should be a minimum of 60 to 90 days. Knutson stated the homeowners association drafted their own bylaws, which have to be signed by 75 percent of the neighbors to be approved, and they also state that a renter cannot sublet. Knutson stated there are a number of nice homes on the lake here in Orono and that sooner or later this will become a bigger issue. Jeannie Carter, 2780 Shadywood Road, stated she is here tonight because she does operate Airbnb out of their home. Carter stated in her view there is some confusion over what a short-term rental is and that she is here tonight to support the ordinance. Carter stated in her view a two-day minimum is perfect and that most people who operate Airbnb prefer a two-day stay because it is less work for them. Carter stated the reason she got into it is because she used to run a bed and breakfast in Excelsior. Carter stated the interesting thing is that 25 years ago some of the same concerns expressed about bed and breakfasts, such as crime, noise and traffic concerns, are also being brought up about short-term rentals. Carter noted that obviously has been disproved because there are now bed and breakfasts all over the world. Groups like Airbnb are a natural progression of that movement. Carter stated she looks at it as not having strangers coming into the community but for her to be a host and to welcome visitors to the community. Carter stated she would hate to see the City of Orono say, no, we don’t want strangers coming here. Carter stated she enjoys meeting from different areas and that most of the guests are coming into the community because of a family event or a class reunion or to visit friends or family. Carter indicated she does not do it on a full-time basis and that she does not want a tenant or a roommate but rather simply a visitor on a short-term basis. Carter stated when you get into requiring things like a 30-day minimum stay, you are getting a tenant and not a guest.