August 16, 2024 |
Photo – Saratoga Town Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Saratoga Planning Commission asked for public comment about short term rentals in town.
The Saratoga Planning Commission has struggled to decide what, if anything, should be done to curtail the abundance of short-term rentals in town. Some residents say short-term rentals contribute to the local economy while others say the units take homes off the market, limiting the availability of lower cost housing. The latest data shows that 69 short-term rental properties are currently operating in Saratoga as businesses struggle to find employees because of the housing shortage.
On Tuesday evening, the Saratoga Planning Commission held a public hearing to discuss short-term rentals. Newspaper Manager Josh Wood said he has trouble recruiting employees because of the lack of available housing. Wood said a permitting process will allow the town to collect data on how many short-term rentals exist and how they affect the housing market.
Hotel owner John Evans said he isn’t against short-term rentals because they promote tourism. However, Evans said taking too many houses off the market forces workers out of town.
Local business owner James Campbell said a state study indicated that nearly 5% of all Saratoga homes are used for short-term rentals. Campbell said the rental properties should be treated the same as other commercial businesses.
Saratoga Councilman Mike Cooley said he does not support additional regulations. Councilman Cooley said the planning commission should consider other reasons for Saratoga’s lack of housing instead of simply focusing on short-term rentals.
Planning Commission Chairwoman McCall Burau said the town already has an ordinance in place governing rentals in residential districts. Burau said the town simply needs to enforce the existing code.
The discussion lasted for over two hours. Burau asked Public Works Director Emery Penner to send out a survey to residents seeking their opinions about short-term rentals. Penner said doesn’t expect the survey to offer any new information.
In the end, the Planning Commission decided that they wanted to enforce the existing ordinance that requires rentals to have a special use permit. The commission will hold another public workshop to decide how to get short-term rental property owners to comply with the town’s rules. No date has been set for the meeting.
