CPOASCC
Public hearing on vacation rentals 12/14/2010
Dear Coastal Property Owners Association of Santa Cruz County Member:
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a Public Hearing on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. or thereafter, in the Board Chambers at 701 Ocean Street, Room 525, Santa Cruz, CA, to consider adding an ordinance relating to vacation rentals.
Although the ordinance is not yet ready for the Supervisors’ consideration, Steve Guiney of the Planning Department at 831-454-2323 has stated that the Supervisors will entertain public comment on the matter.
The Vacation Rental Ordinance Update from the Supervisor (John) Leopold Newsletter of 12/7/10 is as follows:
In the process of a considering a vacation rental ordinance, the county Planning
Commission held two well-attended hearings on this issue in November. The commission
has not yet voted to recommend a version of the ordinance, but based on the discussions
at these meetings the Planning Commission’s version will likely land somewhere between
the original version developed by the Planning Department and the stripped-down
version recommended by the Housing Advisory Commission.
It appears that the Planning Commission will recommend that all vacation rentals
countywide be required to register and pay transient occupancy tax, specify a local
person to contact in case of problems, provide signage with this information, and
pay the cost of Sheriff’s visits.
In addition, since coastal Live Oak is where most of the vacation rental neighborhood
issues have occurred, the Planning Commission may favor additional regulation in
this area. The staff report to the Planning Commission indicates that in the coastal
area of Live Oak, currently about 12-13% of the houses are vacation rentals. The
commission may recommend some kind of density limitation on the number of vacation
rentals, both for the area as a whole and on individual blocks. Additional possible
restrictions in Live Oak include sufficient parking onsite (allowing for 2 vehicles
parked on-street) and a restriction on the number of occupants to 2 per bedroom
plus 2 additional, with children under 12 not counted in the total.
The commission did not support any limitations on length of stay, so previous recommendations
such as a minimum 7-day stay or a maximum of one rental per 7-day period will not
be included.
Due to a last minute legal challenge brought by a lawyer hired by three out-of-town
vacation rental owners, the environmental review process for the ordinance will
need to be extended. The draft ordinance is scheduled to come back to the Planning
Commission for a final vote on February 23, 2011. The draft then returns to the
Board of Supervisors and will need approval from the Coastal Commission. Stay tuned
for updates and scheduled public hearings. Vacation Rental Ordinance Update
In the process of a considering a vacation rental ordinance, the county Planning
Commission held two well-attended hearings on this issue in November. The commission
has not yet voted to recommend a version of the ordinance, but based on the discussions
at these meetings the Planning Commission’s version will likely land somewhere between
the original version developed by the Planning Department and the stripped-down
version recommended by the Housing Advisory Commission.
It appears that the Planning Commission will recommend that all vacation rentals
countywide be required to register and pay transient occupancy tax, specify a local
person to contact in case of problems, provide signage with this information, and
pay the cost of Sheriff’s visits.
In addition, since coastal Live Oak is where most of the vacation rental neighborhood
issues have occurred, the Planning Commission may favor additional regulation in
this area. The staff report to the Planning Commission indicates that in the coastal
area of Live Oak, currently about 12-13% of the houses are vacation rentals. The
commission may recommend some kind of density limitation on the number of vacation
rentals, both for the area as a whole and on individual blocks. Additional possible
restrictions in Live Oak include sufficient parking onsite (allowing for 2 vehicles
parked on-street) and a restriction on the number of occupants to 2 per bedroom
plus 2 additional, with children under 12 not counted in the total.
The commission did not support any limitations on length of stay, so previous recommendations
such as a minimum 7-day stay or a maximum of one rental per 7-day period will not
be included.
Due to a last minute legal challenge brought by a lawyer hired by three out-of-town
vacation rental owners, the environmental review process for the ordinance will
need to be extended. The draft ordinance is scheduled to come back to the Planning
Commission for a final vote on February 23, 2011. The draft then returns to the
Board of Supervisors and will need approval from the Coastal Commission. Stay tuned
for updates and scheduled public hearings.