Council Makes Minor Changes To Short Term Rentals, But Chooses Neighborhood Quiet Over $$$
Written by 991KBU on September 15, 2020
Short term rentals have been before the city council at least 8 times over the last 4 years. .
And last night … the city council finally approved two short term rental ordinances …and a state coastal plan change request.
Council members heard from 33 speakers and got tons of emails.
Councilman Jefferson Wagner.
NEWSCART 73006 RENT WAG UP TO US
“We’ve given it plenty of time … and it’s been well announced. I just want to clarify it for people who are just checking in or did not know what was going on right now. A lot of the comments that came in on the email are pertinent and they are only going about reiterating what was already agreed-upon anyone meeting or another.”
Some council members worried that the new rules were too a little bit too broad.
Karen Farrer cited some families … who said their longstanding practice of renting out their houses while they go on vacation is threatened.
NEWSCART 73007 RENT FERMUL
FERRER: “You know there are a lot of unique situations that we’ve heard from tonight … like the (INAUDIBLE) family.
MULLEN: “Well … remember … I mean … what is the priority???
“The priority is residential neighborhoods … the character of the neighborhood … and having … neighbors.”
Karen Farrer … followed by councilman Rick Mullen.
The council approved basically the same ordinance that was approved for Santa Monica.
The council made a few tinkerings … so the final language is going to have to come back for a vote.
The council voted to allow an owner of a short term rental to appoint a designated operator to handle things … to be able to leave town for up to two months a year.
But the owner of designated operator must be on the site … 9 a m to 6 p m on days it is being rented out.
And they cleared up that a duplex or triplex can have one unit rented out overnights … and multifamily unites larger than that can have two.
…
The city council meeting stretched until well after 1 in the morning.
Other items …
Developer Norm Haynie was told there is no way to avoid doing an environmental study on his proposed Sea View Hotel.
City council members are in a hurry to APPROVE THE proposed new hotel … across the street from Nobu …
Virtually no one opposes the hotel … which would add 20 thouand dolars a week in hotel tax to a city treasury that could really use the money.
But the environmental review will take as long as 8 months …
And on Point Dume … new speed humps may go in this fall on two streets.
The city has now gone out to bid on speed humps for Fernhill and Dume Drive … but not Birdview.
Last night … the city council approved staggered overnight parking along PCH at Corral Beach and Zuma Beach.
Signs cannot go up … however … until the Coastal Commission approves.
