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Town Continues to Seek Solutions for Short-Term Rentals

In a town with no shortage of seasonal residents, short-term rental housing has become a sore spot for many year-round residents. According to First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons, members of the Board of Selectmen (BOS) are continuing to look for a solution.

Short-term rentals like those available on Airbnb and seasonal rentals have become a cause for concern for many residents who’ve complained that the lack of oversight on the properties leads to noise, overcrowding, fast vehicles, confrontations, and a host of other problems. While short-term rentals can be lucrative for property owners, a lack of definitive ordinances associated with the rentals are impacting the quality of life for many living near the properties.

“We’ve had a lot of conversations about this, but honestly, it is all over the place. Every town has handled it differently. It’s a little unclear on the case law in Connecticut because it’s not as common here,” Lyons explained. “So, I know everybody says , ‘well, you can just go look at what they’re doing in Kennebunkport or in Lake Tahoe,’ but it’s very different the way our zoning works and the way state statute works. We’re trying to weave through all that and find something that makes sense for our community.”

Lyons said she has been working with Selectman Bruce Wilson and Town Planner Erin Mannix to find a solution. She’s optimistic a plan including possible new ordinances can be presented to the public before the end of the year.

“We hope to have something ready for the public in the next 30 to 60 days,” said Lyons.

According to Lyons, enforcement of any new enacted ordinance is a difficult proposition for any municipality.

“It's still in process. I know a lot of people have been asking about this topic, but it’s complicated. You also have to have some way to enforce once you create an ordinance. Who do they call? Do you fine people for not registering? What information are we going to require from homeowners? It really gets into a lot of granularity, and so we have a lot to consider with this issue,” said Lyons. “It’s hard to weave through that, but luckily there are some examples here in Connecticut, so we are looking at those to see how that might work for us. So, that is in process.”

Despite the rise in popularity of websites like Airbnb over recent years, Selectman Bruce Wilson said that the problem isn’t necessarily a new one.

“I think this has been a long simmering issue in the community, especially south of Route 1,” Wilson said.

Wilson added that part of the process is listening to both sides of the issue. Many landlords of short-term rental properties have relied on the extra income generated by renting seemingly private homes for decades, and regulating the issue is nuanced.

“The message that I’d like to get out there is that we hear the spectrum of voices from the community. People that have a long history of renting out their homes and also from those who are saying that these rentals are interfering with their quality of life. We hear all those voices and hope to craft a solution that is okay with everybody,” said Wilson. “I think it’s important for residents to know that we hear, and are listening, to all the voices in this.”

Lyons acknowledged that she is a landlord for a short-term rental property and said that she would recuse herself from formal discussions and a vote when the time comes. She said that her experience, however, allows her to bring a unique perspective to the discussions with Wilson and Mannix.

“I think right now, because we are not specifically voting on a package, it’s okay.” Lyons said. “But, eventually, I will have to step back and recuse myself, and that will probably be when we get into the specifics of any proposal. There’s the value of having a perspective, so, I can bring perspective to the issue, which is what I’ve tried to do to this point. But then there is the argument that I shouldn’t have too much influence on this. So, there’s influence versus perspective and knowledge.”

Lyons said she is aware that she could potentially over-influence the issue, and she is looking to balance that.

“At some point I have to consider, ‘Well, at this point, I’ve helped move things along, but now am I over-influencing?’ So, we have to balance that,” Lyons said. “And I obviously would not be voting on this issue. That would be left to the four other selectmen.”