Agenda 05-21-19 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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19 1 Chair Rich said it is very different in the towns versus the County, and she is fine with 2 the way it is written in the ordinance and it covers what Anthony Carey is saying. 3 Commissioner Dorosin asked John Roberts to clarify if AirBnBs can be 4 regulated/restricted. 5 John Roberts said he sent a memo on how to regulate them. 6 Commissioner Dorosin said the provision in the UDO basically prohibits them if the host 7 does not live at the property. 8 Chair Rich asked if there are only specific areas in Orange County where an AirBnB can 9 exist. 10 Michael Harvey said that is correct. 11 Commissioner Dorosin asked if this is enforceable. 12 Michael Harvey said by report, which staff investigates. 13 John Roberts said there are three ways to regulate this use: 1.) through zoning; 2.) 14 operational (parking, insurance, inspections, etc.); 3.) quantitative restrictions (caps on the 15 number of uses within the zone, distance from each other, etc.). He said this is a geographical 16 restriction. 17 Commissioner Dorosin said this is the only one that would not require advance 18 registration. 19 John Roberts said yes. 20 Laurie Paolicelli, Visitors Bureau (VB) Director, said the subject of short-term rentals has 21 exploded, and the VB has developed a subcommittee to study it. She said, in summary, the 22 short-term rental industry in Orange County has exploded, generating $9 million. She said the 23 biggest issue is the short-term rental of non-occupied units being listed as a hotel 24 accommodation. She said there is no oversight to short term rentals, and there are concerns 25 about safety. She said it is also affecting the affordable rental inventory. She said AirBnB is not 26 a concern, in and of itself, but more the out of state investors buying units and renting them out 27 with no real regulations or oversight. She said these properties are taking away from hotels, 28 jobs, etc. 29 Commissioner Dorosin said he is not sure how he feels about resolving this. 30 Chair Rich agreed. She said AirBnBs are here to stay, but the regulations available to 31 the County should be used, and it is more of a town issue and not so much in the County. 32 Laurie Paolicelli said the bigger North Carolina cities are seeing and tackling these 33 issues, and noted that Durham is handling this differently by accommodating and embracing 34 the AirBnBs. She said Asheville has banned AirBnBs in the downtown area. 35 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the Asheville ban has been challenged. 36 Laurie Paolicelli said she does not know, and the AirBnB issue is forever changing. 37 Commissioner Price said she thought the letter from Anthony Carey asked the Board if it 38 would wait until Chapel Hill or Carrboro vote on the issue, in order to establish consistency. 39 Michael Harvey said the County has a different set of issues/opportunities/constraints 40 than the municipalities, and the County's regulations ought not to mirror, or be based on, 41 Chapel Hill or Carrboro that has completely separate issues. He said the Board has a policy 42 that is currently reflected in the UDO, and it serves the County well. He said he sees no need 43 to change the current policy. 44 Chair Rich said the UDO is a living document, and the BOCC can always revisit the 45 issue. She said she will update Anthony Carey. 46 Commissioner Dorosin said all are fine with the host occupied units. 47 Chair Rich said problems arise when it starts affecting affordable housing. She agreed 48 this is more of a town issue. 49