HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-07-17 Public Comment - B. Vandenbrink - Short Term RentalsFrom:Brigitte
To:Agenda
Subject:ST Rental Ordinance 1974
Date:Monday, August 07, 2017 10:57:38 PM
Dear Bozeman City Commissioners,
I am writing to urge you to include 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 bureacracy,
something Bozeman and Montana has always been
strongly against.
Thank you,
Brigitte Vandenbrink
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.