The Landings & Bay Colony

12

Commissioner’s Message continued

Update on Vacation Rentals:The City will require people
renting out homes to vacationers to register and adhere to
new regulations, however, at this time, has backed off
imposing a 10-guest maximum on vacation rentals in single-
family neighborhoods. Your commission agreed to set the
guest limit at two people per bedroom plus two additional
people. A one-bedroom house could be rented to four
people, a two-bedroom to six and a 10-bedroom to 22. It
was also decided that the number of vehicles used by
guests would have to fit legally on site and not be parked
on the street. As most of you know, the neighborhoods,
along with the City, have been frustrated since 2011 by a
state law that restricted cities from prohibiting the rentals,
from limiting how many times a property could be rented
each year and from setting a minimum length for the
rentals. This new City law will take effect November 1,
2015. At the commission meeting held on August 18,
2015, the commission reacted to numerous complaints from
residents who say their peace and quiet is being disrupted
by vacationers who overwhelm neighborhoods, party late,
have little regard for neighbors and whose cars create
parking nightmares. We also listened to the pleas of

vacation rental property managers who agreed with the
need for greater regulations, but feared the proposals could
put them out of business. Commissioners unanimously
approved the law after raising the cap, but asked staff to
meet with property manager representatives to see what
additional changes might be needed before the law takes
effect. We do not want to penalize the group that is doing it
right while we are going through this transitional period. I
would like to see tougher consequences for those who
violate the rules, a concern raised by many residents whose
lives have been upended by nearby vacation rentals. The
properties will have to meet City codes and owners will
have to show proof they are paying the appropriate county
and state taxes and fees. ALSO, please join Commissioner
Trantalis and myself on Thursday, 9/17/15, 6pm,
Commission Chambers - for a Town Hall Meeting to discuss
this new ordinance. The meeting is open to the public and
will include opportunities for input on the regulation and
requirements contained in the ordinance.

New Bicycle Signage:Thanks to negotiations led by our
Transportation and Mobility Department (TAM), new
signage, pavement markings, and a parallel bike route