HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-22-17 Public Comment - M. Banville - Short Term Rentals1
Clerk Temp
From:Mike Banville <mike@alltrips.com>
Sent:Monday, May 22, 2017 11:07 AM
To:Agenda
Subject:don't be too restrictive with vacation rentals
Categories:Public Comment
Dear Bozeman City Commission,
I have many friends and business associates in the city limits who offer both long and short‐term
property rentals. Each of them is very cognizant of their business practices in their neighborhoods, and goes
to the extra effort to vet potential guests (and renters) before approving an agreement.
I would respectfully ask you to not be too restrictive on WHERE and WHAT neighborhoods rentals can exist;
because homeowners, and their firms that may represent them, are not a culprit in the cause of housing
affordability or inventory.
You all know, the economics of rentals ‐ whether short or long‐term ‐ are distinctly different depending on
one's time horizon of ownership, amount of effort they want to engage in the maintenance and upkeep of a
property, guest interactions, and of course, the make‐up of the guests actually in the structure and for how
long. When I read of the blow‐back of the AirBnB‐style property owner, you cannot lump those into the same
class as a destination visitor who often visits for 3‐6 nights, and routinely purchases many ancillary services
and products in town to help our economy. By and large, these guest‐types (from my own experience as such
a renter in other markets) are one of respectful use of a property, are not prone to being socially disruptive,
and usually have fewer vehicles involved in parking during their stay than, say, students going to MSU (who
are longer‐term renters).
I agree, permitting and license fees should be required of lodging providers, no different than how a motel,
hotel or B&B operates. But to put even more onerous restrictions on an investor's property solely based on its
location or whether a magical 'quota' is reached would be detrimental to our city and its economic engine.
I support a homeowner's rights to do what is legal and fair in a marketplace, and if they are good stewards of a
property, and operate it ethically within its neighborhood, they should not be restricted in any way.
Michael Banville ‐ Digital Advisor
Based in Bozeman, Montana
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