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Council <br />Exhibit B <br />REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br />DATE: March 14, 2016 <br />ITEM NO: 13 <br />Department Approval: Administrator Reviewed: Agenda Section: <br />Name Jeremy Barnhart Planning <br />Title Community Development Director <br />Item Description: #15-3759, City of Orono, Text Amendment: Short Term (Vacation) Rentals <br />Application Summary <br />The issue of short term (also known as vacation) rentals has been a topic of growing concern <br />nationally over the last couple of years. It appears the loss of tax revenue and inspection <br />oversight is a concern of larger municipalities. In Orono, the concerns seems to revolve more <br />around neighborhood concerns with noise, parking, traffic, etc. <br />Last summer, some Councilmembers receive one or more complaints from property owners <br />regarding excessive noise, traffic, and trash associated from some rentals. At the time, a letter <br />was sent to property owners understood to be renting to vacationers, reminding them to be good <br />neighbors. Two properties were reported by neighbors to be renting to vacationers, though were <br />found to be owner occupied. No complaints were received by city staff after the letters went out. <br />Planning Commission Recommendation <br />In February, the Planning Commission hosted a listening session on the subject, hearing from 8 <br />owners (of the 12 identified by staff) of vacation rental property who advised the Planning <br />Commission that they regulate their renters in a manner stricter than proposed by the City. <br />Public hearings have been held on the subject in November 2015, January and February 2016. A <br />copy of the draft ordinance was posted on the cities website since December. During this time, <br />the Planning Commission reviewed several drafts of an ordinance, including a version that <br />prohibited short term rentals. After much discussion during the February Planning Commission <br />meeting (draft minutes attached, Exhibit C), the Commission is forwarding an ordinance that <br />requires an annual license to rent dwellings in a short term basis. Included within this <br />requirement are 6 conditions that must be followed to receive a license. The Commission <br />purposefully did not restate ordinance regulations already in the city code. The 6 conditions <br />primarily act as a reminder, and an ability to register property owners so that upon complaint, the <br />city can react faster. <br />The Planning Commission, with a vote of 5-1, recommended approval of the ordinance <br />following the public hearing on February 16th. Commissioner Schoenzeit felt that the ordinance <br />was unnecessary and was regulating something that wasn't an issue. No one spoke in favor or <br />opposition to the proposal. <br />Planning Staff Recommendation <br />