HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-24-17 Public Comment - D. Ostby -ShortTermRentalsFrom: David Ostby [mailto:dwostby@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2017 3:54 PM
To: Chuck Winn <CWinn@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: STR Input
Here is my STR input since I am unable to do it on-line, since the website
says I needed to provide my email address (which I did in the appropriate box). You may want to check
this website input form out or you won't receive any input that way.
I have a STR located adjacent to me. This has greatly increased the noise
and traffic in the area (both for various possible renters to check out the
location and also since it is a larger place where the renters/their
friends/dogs meet and visit. The visitors prefer these locations since they
have no quiet hours imposed on them like the hotels and that they can let
their animals roam (Note that this rental doesn't have a fenced yard). In
addition by the time one works with the homeowner to resolve these
numerous noise/car issues the STR renters are gone. This rental is
located on a 2nd floor balcony which overlooks my front door.
This mini-hotel provides extra income for the homeowner but this comes at a cost to
many others (noise/car pollution to many neighbors in a residential area,
decreased property values because of commercial operations in a residential
area (who wants to buy into a residential house next to a commercial operation),
increased vacancies in hotels, less jobs for hotel housekeepers/office
help, less incentive for companies building hotels in commercial areas.
I believe this is the MAIN purpose for city zoning - to keep density levels in the same
type of areas (or why even have zoning?). I bought into the Headlands area 12 years ago to enjoy a
quiet peaceful retirement - long before AirBNB's were ever even a concept or problem. I have gone to
the City Forums and it appears that it is largely filled with owners who have STRs in their homes (most of
which are not recognized by the City). I think that the only people who can fully understand/appreciate
these issues are the people (like me) who live next to them. These are the people the city should search
out for facts before this issue gets even larger.
Thanks for reading this. David