HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-02-23 Public Comment - M. Hahn-Knoff - Public comment on 2149 - 10_2 THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF BOZEMAN, MONTANAFrom:Marcie Hahn-Knoff
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public comment on 2149 - 10/2 THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA
Date:Sunday, October 1, 2023 4:54:04 PM
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Dear Community Development Board~
I ask that you please consider not recommend adopting the current draft of Ordinance 2149.
The very heavy handed and sudden shift of the city to outright bans on short term rentals is
short sighted and reactionary – and based on the numbers provided by the city itself (quoted
from Montana Free Press – 760 units or 3% of the city’s housing stock), will not create much if
any real effect on the housing stock available to long term renters. There are few
opportunities for Type 3 rentals within the city now – perhaps the board could investigate
how many rentals there actually are in Type 3 – it’s already incredibly restricted to R5, B2M,
B2. Bozeman is a tourist town and tourists have become accustomed to renting short term
rentals as a matter of convenience – the owners of short term rental accommodations that
are responsible register them, have mandatory inspections, pay taxes and fees in order for
their properties to serve the general public. These properties are furnished to accommodate
the guests with furniture, amenities, etc that a typical renter would not find in the property –
many of these properties are not rented year round. Owners come and go in Bozeman – there
is a fairly large 2nd home market here.
Bozeman Tenants United bases their premise of banning short term rentals on assuming that
if property owners are not going to rent their properties short term that they are naturally
going to rent them long term which is simply not the case. Many of these owners won’t rent
them at all – the simple fact is that they don’t have to.
There has been little or no consulting or weight given to comments from actual property
owners who pay taxes on this issue. I do believe that the city is asking for an invitation for
multiple lawsuits if this current path is followed.
I think a more rational and egalitarian solution can be found. Harder fines for non-registered
vacation homes, making the creation of affordable housing easier, using a system like Big Sky
created of credits to take properties out of vacation rental status to accommodate long term
renters - perhaps paid for by fines and fees, creating a network to better connect tenants and
landlords. I ask you to please consider some alternatives.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Respectfully~
Marcie Knoff