HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-22-17 Public Comment - H. Happel - Short Term RentalsFrom: Henry H Happel
To: Agenda
Subject: Short-Term Rentals
Date: Sunday, January 22, 2017 5:41:09 PM
I am writing with regard to the regulation of short term rental (“STR”) properties currently
under discussion in Bozeman. I started to take the Peak Democracy citizen survey, but found
the questions inadequate to express my views.
The City needs to balance the legitimate concerns of neighbors with the rights of people to do
with their property as they wish.
I am concerned about the proliferation of STRs in circumstances where the property is not
substantially owner-occupied. Entire houses given over primarily to short term rentals put
holes in the neighborhood. In some respects they are like vacant lots, but potentially worse
because of the possibility of noise, parking congestion, and unneighborly behavior. I would
therefore not permit these as a general matter.
At the other end of the spectrum, I have no objection to an occupying homeowner renting out
a room or several rooms through a service like Airbnb.
I also would not object to an occupying homeowner, absent from town for, say, up to three
months a year, renting his or her home on a short-term basis during the period of the
homeowner’s absence.
There are obviously other possible fact situations, but I think they could all be dealt with
within the above framework.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
Henry Happel