The composition of a committee studying recommendations for a new county ordinance on short-term rentals of lakeside properties prompted some in-fighting at last week’s meeting of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners.
Under commission rules, only the commission chairman has the authority to create committees. However, District 3 Commissioner Alan Foster in particular objected to the interpretation of his motion last month urging Chairman Bill Sharp to create a study committee on short-term rentals.
“In my remembrance, each commissioner would have named one person,” Foster said, which would have resulted in a committee of five or six people.
The roster presented to the commission for confirmation last week had a dozen or so names on it, to be chaired by Maggie Milner, president of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce. Foster also objected to out-of-county investors/owners being named.
Lake Oconee resident Erin Olson pointed to several recent problems with short-term rentals – and especially their commercialization through corporations like VRBO and Airbnb, not to mention up-and-coming start-ups.
Some of the larger, more recently purchased properties and their additions would convert them into virtual lakeside hotels, she argued, something not allowed in severely restricted R1-R zoning.
Steve Howard ticked off more particular problems, ranging from the number of visitors, cars, and even buses parked at some rental properties, to floodlights, large parties, loud music into the morning hours, careless and dangerous boating in the coves, and even graffiti and vandalism.
“We expect protection, not a commercial enterprise,” Charles Patten said.
In a 4-0 vote, the composition of the committee was tabled until the next regularly scheduled meeting.