HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-08-23 Public Comment - K. Harris - My Opposition to Restricting Short Term RentalsFrom:Kyler Harris
To:Agenda; Cyndy Andrus; Terry Cunningham; Christopher Coburn; Jennifer Madgic; I-Ho Pomeroy
Subject:[EXTERNAL]My Opposition to Restricting Short Term Rentals
Date:Tuesday, August 8, 2023 10:48:32 AM
Attachments:Research_ Restricting Airbnb Rentals Reduces Development.pdf
How Tourism Positively Affects the Bozeman Economy - Bozeman Chamber of Commerce.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Bozeman City Commission,I am writing you today in opposition to restricting short-term rentals in Bozeman City Limits.
This is a unique issue because most people on both sides of the argument actually want thesame thing. We all want more affordable housing in Bozeman.
Bozeman is an incredibly desirable place to live and an even more desirable place to visit.
Tourism plays a huge part in the success of Bozeman and we have allbenefitted economically from the increased amount of visitors flying into our area each month.
To ban short-term rentals is to deny the very nature of what Bozeman is. We are a touristdestination, we are a college town, we are a thriving community. We are some of the best
skiing in the country, and we are an outdoor playground. Visitors to Bozeman choose short-term rentals because it offers a unique value proposition that hotels can not meet. It makes
Bozeman more affordable for a family to visit, and it helps them feel at home and gather withtheir loved ones while they explore the Gallatin Valley. Restricting the options of travelers
will have a negative impact on businesses that rely on tourism. It will hurt our vibrantdowntown. We do not have enough hotels in Bozeman to meet current demand and this has
caused hotel prices to skyrocket. Families have decided to not travel here and see their kidsthat are attending MSU. Sports leagues have chosen other cities to host tournaments because
they can't get hotel rooms. Restricting short-term rentals will compound this issue and lead toother consequences. The reason short-term rentals are successful in Bozeman is because there
is a need for them. In 2019, the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at theUniversity of Montana reported non-resident spending at nearly $1 billion in Gallatin County.
Almost 1.4 million people spent at least one night within the Bozeman city limits. These areout-of-state dollars being invested in our community. This major impact on the Bozeman
economy needs to be embraced and celebrated, not restricted.
Restricting short-term rental will also negatively impact the future development of residentialunits in Bozeman which will further hurt housing affordability. I have attached a study
published in the Harvard Business Review. They conclude that there is a direct correlationbetween STR restrictions and a decrease in building permit applications. Developers will
choose to put their money elsewhere furthering the supply and demand issue that is drivingrental prices through the roof.
Another thing to consider. If I had a STR taken away from me in Bozeman, I would sell it and
use the proceeds to buy 2 STRs in Belgrade. I wouldn't simply roll over and make less money.This would be a net loss of 1 more home that could have been a rental or purchased by a
family. I suspect others would do the same.
Please do not restrict the property rights of Bozeman residents. Many of them rely on theirSTR in order to afford to keep their families in this community.
Sincerely, Kyler Harris
Bozeman Resident
https://hbr.org/2021/11/research-restricting-airbnb-rentals-reduces-development
https://bozemanchamber.com/blog/how-tourism-positively-affects-the-bozeman-economy
Kyler Harris
harris.kyler@gmail.com406-698-3942