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Home My WebLink About10-02-23 Public Comment - E. Mason - End short term rentals for non-primary residencesFrom:Emily Mason To:Agenda Subject:[EXTERNAL]End short term rentals for non-primary residences Date:Sunday, October 1, 2023 6:07:38 PM 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 City Commissioners, The City Commissions decades long inaction on short term rentals has played a role in the affordable housing crisis. For far too long, owners of residences have let houses sit emptybecause it is much more lucrative to Vrbo or air b&b a house or apartment than it is to rent it out to full time tenants. The fact that none of the current City Commissioners can acceptresponsibility for their inaction is disappointing, to say the least. I am submitting these comments for the 10/2 meeting on short term rental policy. Long ago, the City should have made common sense policies that many other cities made that bannedshort term rentals in favor of long term rentals. Here’s what the City should do: 1 - any primary home owner (who lives in the primary residence full time) should be able to convert a basement or build an adu on their property and either rent out short term or longterm. They can choose. 2 - any owner of a residence that is not owner occupied/primary residence should not be able to rent the property short term, I.e, a period of time under 30 days. These owner unoccupiedresidences must be rented out for 30 6 months or longer. 3. This applies to all apartment buildings, duplexes, triplexes and single FAMILY homes. Had the City made these common sense policies a decade ago, we would not be in the crisis we are in now. It’s time for action. No more catering to the developers and the wealthy whofly in occasionally for their little taste of Montana. It is time to govern for the regular folks who want to keep Bozeman livable . Thanks you for your consideration, Emily Mason2703 Westrdige Dr. 59715 -- Emily K. Mason