A “week at the beach” may have long been a way of life in coastal communities, but the downside to some party weekends at Putnam’s lakefront properties has apparently risen rather quickly.
“Too many people, too much noise, too many cars, up too late,” is the way one homeowner put it.
After two town hall-type meetings drew large crowds this spring, the Putnam Board of Commissioners took up the subject of short-term rentals (STRs). The commissioners held their third work session on problems and possible approaches this past Tuesday morning, with hints at its mid-month meeting last week that a decision could be coming sooner rather than later.
The basic approach has been on finding a balance between property rights and neighborhood peace-and-quiet values. As is so often the case, the devil is in the details, such as capacity limits, the use of recreational vehicles and/ or accessory structures, limits on the total number of short-term rental properties, licensing requirements, on-site parking, a ban on special events, controls over pets, treatment of violations, the hiring of code-enforcement officers, an appeals process, and so on.
A citizens group last week presented the commissioners with a 10-page draft ordinance addressing most of these quandaries. The group’s approach focused on the creation of “overlay districts” for various zoning categories.
“This proposal will not eliminate any existing STRs and will allow for their continued, but regulated, operation in our county,” said the group’s representative, Rick Brantley, of the Water’s Edge community. “It will, however if enforced, protect a homeowner’s right to the safe and peaceful enjoyment of his/her home and prevent the over-commercialization of residential neighborhoods.”
Other actions at the commission’s mid-month meeting included: The submission of three more names for the Hospital Authority to select for a vacant board position: Jerry Gregory (who has served on the board since 1978), Marilyn Simon, and Richard Garrett. With one vacant seat remaining, the commission needs at least one more applicant to fill its required three names next month.
As the meeting drew to a close, County Manager Paul Van Haute announced that for the first time in a couple of years, bids for resurfacing roads came in at estimated costs. Old Phoenix Road tops the resurfacing list this year.