Talbot County Council will be holding a public hearing on changes to the county’s Short-Term Rental Laws. While Talbot County is made up of many different areas and is regulated by varied zoning districts, Short-Term Rentals are treated the same whether on a 50-acre farm or a quarter acre lot. Because of this, a request was made to the Council to create two classes of Short-Term Rentals, a request which so far has been ignored.
The Talbot Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing to review the Council changes and make recommendations on July 1. Many of Talbot’s full-time residents living in Bentley Hay, Rio Vista and the many Villages have expressed the need to protect their densely developed neighborhoods.
The Planning Commission could consider dividing STR’s into two classes of license, an idea that was submitted to the County Council President, Planning Commission and County staff. This is not a proposal to ban STR’s but would help separate and make more sense than the current one size fits all approach. The Planning Commission can make those recommendations to the County Council. Creation of two classes would fulfill the original purpose of home sharing by homeowners. Also, this would allow second home owners to earn extra income to help with expenses.
Some may say limiting STR’s is an infringement on a property owner rights, but what about the property rights of a neighbor who invested in a residential neighborhood and suddenly finds his quality of life substantially degraded by living next door to a commercial lodging operation? Living next door to STR can range from mildly concerning to completely life altering. STR’s in residential neighborhoods are a quality of life issue for residents, their rights should not be subservient to the economic benefits of a limited few.
Remarkably, almost half of Talbot County’s voters live in our incorporated towns where tight STR restrictions protect them. (Easton only allows STR’s if it’s a principal residence). It’s time our County Council (who all live in Easton) take action and give the rest of us the same protection that they enjoy. Let’s hope the Planning Commission agrees. If you think an STR is only for vacation homes think again, the law allows a STR anywhere with the only criteria of a three-day lease.
Robert Haase St. Michaels
Charles Barranco says
In Mr Hasse’s article, A level Playing Field for STRs dated June 25, he presents a reasonable solution to deal with the STR problem which is undoubtedly about to engulf the Bentley Hay and Rio Vista neighborhoods as well as other densely populated communities.
Unfortunately, the County Council has in the past ignored the pleas of residents to place restrictions on the number of STRs allowed on a street and in a community.
There are Two Sets of Rules for STRs and Bed and Breakfast s even though they have identical property uses.
The long standing rule for Bed and Breakfasts is they can not be located within 500 feet of each other.
There is no restriction on distance between STRs? In fact, if a current STR application is approved for an STR on Riverview Terrace, it will be next door to an existing Bed and Breakfast. If allowed there will be 2 STRs and a Bed and Breakfast all located in less than a 500 foot area of each other.
An interesting fact, STRs are not considered a commercial enterprise, but Bed and Breakfasts are designated commercial? Could it be that the Real Estate companies have influenced this difference to give them Carte Blanche to line a street and a community with profit making STRs with No Restrictions? I believe the answer is Real Estate companies can’t receive commissions and fees from Bed and Breakfasts, but they can build an empire of STRs!
It’s a Haymaker for Real Estate companies and
their rental programs.
Unless the County Council treats both STRs and Bed and Breakfasts equally as to distance and a commercial designation for both, Talbot County Communities will be replaced by LLCs and absentee landlords.
Let’s hope their is Not Undue Influence effecting the County Council decisions and they apply uniform restrictions equally for STRs and Bed and Breakfasts.
Dennis Glackin says
Mr. Barranco makes good points. STRs are essentially businesses, and should be regulated as such. Turning a residential street into an area with a proliferation of STRs does nothing to preserve or enhance the residential character of a neighborhood. The County should consider St. Michaels approach to only allow them in commercial areas. If that is not the chosen path, then at least limiting their locations through distancing should be strongly considered.
Monica Otte says
Establishing different classes for STRs is a sensible approach that balances the desire of homeowners to rent their properties with the need for neighborhood residents to maintain their quality of life. For other land use issues, the zoning code already establishes different rules to take account of each zone’s distinct characteristics. Applying rules to STRs based on zone would help reduce the friction caused by transient lodging establishments in residential neighborhoods.