HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-17-23 Public Comment - M. Baxter - Legal Short Term Rentals - Need For GrandfatheringFrom:McKinnon Baxter
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Legal Short Term Rentals - Need For Grandfathering
Date:Sunday, October 15, 2023 10:58:32 AM
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Dear City of Bozeman Officials,
We own a principal residence in the county, outside of the Bozeman city limits. We have offered our
registered and licensed home part-time as a vacation rental, on and off as we have traveled over the
past 10 + years. We understand the proposed changes do not affect our property, however, we do
want to share our point of view, in the vein of fairness to all concerned.
We have recently learned of the proposed STR regulations currently in discussion and in
consideration for a vote this week. While we understand the city has the responsibility to direct the
future of home renting rules within its city limits, we ask you to also understand there are property
owners like us, who, along with the property rights inherent to them upon purchasing their property,
have followed all the rules and regulations in creating a legal short term rental.
These property owners may have invested (as in our case) hundreds of thousands of dollars
improving their properties, to create a home that not only serves their families and extended
families who visit Bozeman, but also other families who may come to vacation and otherwise enjoy
our town on a temporary basis, when we, as well, decide to travel to other parts of the world to do
the same.
If this fundamental property right must be stripped of properties, it should be done to the properties
prior to the purchase and prior to the investment in them when those rights existed. For those who
did not exercise their right to rent a property short term, this may be fair to change the rules,
restricting this future option… as they have not previously exercised their property right to do .
But for those owners who have already exercised this right, followed all the rules, made the
investment in their properties, it would be grossly unfair and perhaps illegal to strip these rights
from those owners.
There are certainly many additional benefits to providing families a true family experience instead of
being split up into hotel rooms, however, what concerns me most is the potentially illegal stripping
of property rights after owners have previously and legally registered and licensed their properties
for the use, have made significant investments in their real property and have operated as such in
the past.
Thanks for listening,
R. McKinnon Baxter