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06/12/2024 02:09 PMEAST HAVEN
Public opinion on draft regulations for short-term rental properties in East Haven was split among residents at a June 4 public hearing held by the Town Council.
The ordinance’s methodically crafted language is a highly anticipated response to many complaints the town has received from residents surrounding short-term rental properties, many of them in the beach area of East Haven.
Town Council Chair Joseph Deko told hearing attendees that laws regulating short-term rental properties could have “more teeth” in terms of enforceability around the clock if adopted through an ordinance by the council instead of language being integrated into zoning regulations.
At the hearing, Land Use Attorney Jennifer Coppola read the declaration of purpose, which begins the ordinance, stating that the “regulation of short-term residential rentals in the Town of East Haven is necessary to ensure that such rentals do not adversely impact the health, safety, and/or welfare of renters and neighboring residents,” and that they “do not materially disrupt the use and enjoyment of neighboring properties and the character of residential neighborhoods.”
According to the permit application standards of the draft ordinance, applying owners of a short-term rental property are required to provide for the town “a list of the name(s) and address(es) of the owner(s) of record of all real property abutting or within one hundred (100) feet of the subject property.”
They must also provide a “detailed description of the parking provided for the short-term residential rental use.”
The draft ordinance contains limitations and caps regarding the renting out of a property to occupants. Owners are restricted to renting out their properties for a total of 105 days out of the year, while their occupants may not stay at a short-term property for more than a 14-day period. The maximum occupancy is six people, according to the ordinance.
According to the general standards of the ordinance, “Short-term residential rentals shall only be used for lodging-type purposes.” These purposes include, but are not limited to, “parties, weddings, prom and graduation celebrations, receptions, fundraisers, filming, photo shoots, corporate retreats.”
Renters and occupants would be subject to several state and local regulations and ordinances that prohibit, among other things, trespassing and “unreasonable noise or other disturbances,” two things for which East Haven already has enforceable regulations.
The draft ordinance received sharp criticism from hearing attendants who stated that short-term rental properties bring about numerous public health and safety concerns, some of which are in regards to the non-lodging gatherings and have been difficult to enforce in the past.
The first speaker, Patrick Rowland, made his opposition to the ordinance clear to the Town Council.
“The ordinance should be very simple in one sentence: Short-term rentals should be illegal in the Town of East Haven. Period,” he said.
While imploring the Town Council not to adopt the ordinance, Rowland cited his experience of living on a property in what was supposed to be a quiet residential zone in Clinton where there was constant “mayhem” in the form of rowdy activities by renters.
Jack Tiboni of Cosey Beach Avenue said his neighborhood along the beach area has “changed dramatically” and that his family’s safety has been “jeopardized” due to the area operating short-term rental properties, thus bringing unfamiliar faces and activity.
“We feel that short-term rentals have had a significant impact on the safety and well-being of our residential neighborhood,” said Tiboni. “I would like to see short-term rentals prohibited.”
In contrast to sharp criticism over safety and the potential expensive legal ramifications for the town, the Town Council also heard from Billie Rascati, who said she has “not had any issues” with her Airbnb property on Foxon Boulevard. Rascati did not agree with language in the ordinance restricting the number of days for renters to 105 days nor maintaining “a log of the names, addresses, and contact information for all renters and occupants and their guests for each permit period,” as stated in the document, since some renters may be minors.
Following public comment, the Town Council decided to leave the hearing open. Deko told The Courier that the council may present a revised set of regulations at the second round of public comment on Tuesday, July 16. While Deko said he is “not very optimistic that we're going to have another draft of that by then, so that meeting may not happen,” a second public hearing will certainly not revolve around the first draft.
Deko, a former firefighter, addressed concerns about public health and safety issues, saying they will be an important part of the revised regulations.
“I would like them regulated with my public safety background,” he said. “There needs to be some sort of regulation to show that this place is safe—the smoke detectors are up to date, the exit doors are not blocked, and they are functioning in the case of an emergency.”
These and other public safety concerns, including access for emergency response personnel, will be addressed going forward.
However, Deko said that regulations should not be amended to be “so strict that we outlaw them.”
Paper copies of the draft regulations are available at the Town Clerk’s Office, while a digital copy can be found on the Town Council’s web page under the “Agendas” tab.