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Guest Presentation <br /> Ben Hitchings of the Town of Chapel Hill Planning Department spoke to the board about short term rentals in the town . <br /> According to the most recent planning ordinance there are three ways short term rentals are allowed within the town <br /> limits of Chapel Hill : <br /> 1 . Home occupation or home business , similar to having a hair salon or personal office in your home . This <br /> is limited by its occupying up to 35% percent of the square footage or 700 square feet, whichever is less <br /> with no more than one none family member employee . This allowance is in almost every zone in Chapel <br /> Hill, including residential areas . The owner must live in the residence . The home owner is required to <br /> get a permit for this to insure the ordinance is being followed . <br /> 2 . The second way is called a Tourist Home . This is a business with three to nine units not in residential <br /> distracts and not owner occupied . Allowed in commercial , office and institutional districts . This is for <br /> visits of seven days orfewer. An example would be an inn . <br /> 3 . There are special standards in the Blue Hill district which is 160 acres around Eastgate Shopping Center. <br /> And falls under the town ' s " Form Based Code . " This district allows for short term lodging of up to 30 <br /> days . <br /> Mr. Hitching showed the board a map via power point of all the tourist homes in Chapel Hill . The above is the current <br /> framework that exists in Chapel Hill for short-term rental . Ms . Paolicelli reported that about half of the short-term <br /> rentals in Chapel Hill are whole home rentals . The town is focusing on education as they feel residents are not familiar <br /> with what the rules are . They are also doing research to surmise what others communities are doing as well as utilizing <br /> expertise through the UNC School of Government . They are aware that this is a significant economic concern for both <br /> the hotels and local residents . Chair Carey reported that the hoteliers concern is the whole home rental with no owner <br /> in the home . This brings up concerns around safety and affordable housing and that the capacity in Chapel Hill for these <br /> rentals is equivalent to a 300 room hotel operating a full capacity . <br /> Laurie Paolicelli shared part of a report from the revenue manager the bureau works with : Short-term rentals grew <br /> significantly in March to reach their first $1 million month and this is noteworthy as it is nearly double the amount of <br /> March 2018. Year to date Airdna is reporting $2 . 4 million in revenue which is 60% growth over last year. This all begs <br /> the question ; do we invite the proprietors of the short-term rentals in and talk about safety and share visitor <br /> information with them to share with their guests ? Shannan Campbell reported that when residents of Hillsborough <br /> come to the town for a permit they talk to them about the rule and they also alert the fire marshal who can in turn visit <br /> the home and talk to the owner about safety . She also sends the properties visitor information . The Durham Visitors <br /> Bureau held an open house for people in that city who have a short-term rental and sixty guests showed up, they felt <br /> this was a success since the bureau did it and not town hall . Chair Carey shared that the hoteliers are not interested in <br /> shutting down the business of short-term rental, but rather that they are subject to the same rules as the hotels . Ms . <br /> Paolicelli reminded the board that the Visitors Bureau represents neither the hotels nor the short-term rentals, but is <br /> tasked with bringing visitors into the county. <br /> Executive Directors Report <br /> Laurie Paolicelli thanked board members who attended the presentation by our ad agency, Clean Design, and completed <br /> the survey that followed . It is time to refresh our logo . The survey showed little need for putting Orange County on the <br /> logo and overwhelming support for the "just do you " campaign . The survey also suggested incorporating the other <br /> promotion "find your space" into the creative . It was also suggested that more money be put into meeting recruitment <br /> 2 Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting March 20 , 2019 <br />