HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-05-17 Public Comment - A. Ference - Short Term RentalsFrom:Amy Mountain Ference
To:Agenda
Subject:STRs
Date:Saturday, August 05, 2017 8:37:42 AM
I urge you to consider an exemption for renting 14 days or less per year in any short term rental
ordinance you pass for the following reasons: • 2 weeks or less renters have virtually no impact on
their neighborhoods and these owners are known in their neighborhood and have a vested
interest in their upkeep and impact. • The cost of regulating "small" renters for the city would be
VERY expensive relative to the small number of actual days being rented. Regulation time and
expenses for the city would be dramatically lower and less time consuming for staff if they focused
on the much smaller number of high frequency rental units. The city should use its tight resources
efficiently and responsibly. • Exempting 14 days or less per year is consistent with federal IRS
laws and owners are incented by this tax code to stay under 14 days. • This is an EASY and
FREE way to make the cost of living in Bozeman a little more affordable, a stated goal of the city.
• Sweeping these small transactions into burdensome regulation that is more appropriate for large
transactions is government overreach and excess bureaucracy, something Bozeman and
Montana has always been strongly against. • Not allowing some areas to do Type 2 rentals
penalizes historic areas that already have higher costs, such as tree fees and historic compliance
rules, driving middle class residents out, so only "rich" people can live in the walking
neighborhoods. Type 2 rentals are the most common for owner occupied homes that just rent a
short period, typically only when they are on their own vacation. Please apply this free, easy,
common sense measure to any regulations you pass.
As an aside, I live in R-3 zoning and have no skin in the game, so to speak, as we do not haveintentions of ever renting short-term. However, I do feel that our policy on STRs has an
impact on my daily quality of life as I wish to see options for affordability remain on the tablefor less-affluent residents who nonetheless wish to fulfill the American Dream by owning
property, in the city they love.
Amy Ference410 N Willson Ave
(406) 600-1560
Sent from my phone, please excuse any brevity