HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-12-23 Public Comment - S. Collins - Short term rentalFrom:Steve Collins
To:Agenda
Subject:Short term rental
Date:Monday, June 12, 2023 2:11:23 PM
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Mayor and commission members,
I own a second home in Bozeman that is also a legal, conforming and properly licensed short
term rental. I would like to comment on the recent push by a group of concerned citizensregarding abolishing all second home short term rentals.
The goal of the citizen's group is to add more rental inventory to the local market by not
allowing short term rentals in second homes. While the goal of adding rental inventory is wellintentioned, I feel the focus of restricting second homes currently being used as legal short
term rentals will do little, if anything, to increase the supply of affordable housing.
Take my home as an example. I have children and grandchildren here in Bozeman. I love thecity and spending time here throughout the year with my local and visiting family. If I could
not rent my home as a short term rental during my absences, I would never put it on the rentalmarket as a long term rental, either lease or month to month. That is not why I purchased it
years ago and can only assume that there are many others just like me.
A couple other points to consider in this discussion. One is that if my and other short termrentals didn't exist, it would deprive the local economy of money spent from visiting travelers.
Secondly, it would deprive me of my property rights. I purchased my property conditionedupon meeting all city regulations pertaining at the time for a legal short term rental in the city
limits.
In conclusion, while the local need is great for more affordable rental housing, I do not seehow restricting the use of a second home as a legal short term rental will do anything to
increase affordable long term rental inventory.
Thank you for your time and allowing me to express my opinion.
Best regards,
Steve Collins