HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-11-16, Smith, Vaction Homes, Public CommentI have been the owner, manager, and cleaning service for my vacation rental, the GarajMahal,
since the summer of 2009. It is a one-bedroom apartment above my garage and was approved by
this commission as an Accessory Dwelling Unit in July of 2007.
From the beginning I have paid federal income taxes on my income from my very small business
(it actually amounts to approximately 40 percent of my income since I am otherwise dependent
upon social security and a few small freelance gigs). I have collected and paid the state lodging
tax from the beginning. I have paid the annual fee for a health permit and have been approved by
the Gallatin County Health Department. The recent kerfuffle over Short Term Rentals in Bozeman has made me aware that I am also supposed to be licensed by the city and I am
currently weighing whether it is worth the considerable expense and effort to apply for a CUP
since my apartment is just inside the very edge of the R-2 district (which R-2 designation, I
hasten to point out, has not protected me or my neighbors from the absurdity of having an ugly,
four-story hulk called Nebo Lofts rising across the alley from us or a very inept job of tree removal as the introduction to an ill-considered project called Hawthorne Place slated to be
constructed directly across the alley from my apartment.
For my entire 25 years on the 100 block of North Church, I have been the only resident of that
block although, of course, being a corner property my house also faces the 500 block of East Lamme. My vacation rental guests enter the apartment from North Church and park behind the
building off the alley in the off-street parking space I went to considerable expense to provide
last summer. My own backyard is only backyard the apartment windows look into (a concern of
our once and possibly future mayor when he voted against allowing my Accessory Dwelling).
I’m pretty sure my vacation rental has virtually no impact upon the other residents of my block. The two police complaints that show up on the report provided to you were parking complaints
called in by me when people had apparently abandoned vehicles for lengthy periods — once
with the plates removed — on my block. Unless they are using the patio I built for the apartment
on their end of my backyard, or we happen to cross paths in the garage, even I rarely see my
guests.
I understand the concern about large single family houses being turned into vacation rentals that
are alternately dark and empty or occupied by crowds of people. I have always been a strong
supporter of planning and the theory behind zoning. Intellectually I support infill and greater
density as an alternative to continuing to turn the best agricultural land in Montana into cookie-cutter subdivisions. And I believe in government making it possible for it’s aging citizens to
continue to live in and enjoy their chosen homes.
I just wanted to be sure you all know that not all vacation rentals are an attempt by greedy
property owners to cash in on Bozeman’s popularity as a vacation destination. Some of us are just doing our best to continue to support ourselves.
Marjorie Smith --
Marjorie Smith
122 N. Church Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 579-5823 (mobile)