The Sunday July 29 edition of the Austin American Statesman contained an editorial, “Make rentals easier to tax, monitor.” That editorial can be viewed online at:
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/make-rentals-easier-to-tax-monitor-2424065.html
The Monday July 30 edition contained two opposing editorials. NSCNA supports the position of Council Members Laura Morrison and Kathie Tovo, expressed in the first editorial which can be viewed online at:
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/morrison-tovo-uphold-limits-for-stronger-community-2424433.html
NSCNA does not support the position of Council Member Chris Riley in his editorial, which can be viewed online at:
www.statesman.com/opinion/riley-refine-regulations-but-encourage-visitors-2424434.html
Copied below is a letter from Phil Thomas and Carol Stall who live in East Austin:
“First, let me clarify the blurred lines the author presents between long term rentals and short term rentals (STRs). Also short term rentals vs commercial short term rentals (CSTRs).
Long term rentals are not and never have been in question. They are not per se considered commercial ventures and never have been. They are permissible within a residential framework and under residential zoning and always have been.
Owner occupied short term rentals (STRs) are often a casual by product of high taxes. People rent a room out during an event, or let friends stay for a fee. Not really a problem for most neighborhood folks.
Both of these are startlingly different than commercial short term rentals CSTRs.
CSTRs would be owned by either corporations or people who would not live in your neighborhood. One can assume that these interests have no concern whatsoever for what will happen to your little community or street—unless it affects their profits.
The problem of CSTRs is not limited to noisy parties or extra street traffic, but the change to the nature of a neighborhood from residential to commercial.
Allowing CSTRs in residential neighborhoods– with the fallacious reasoning that Austin is short of hotels is like suggesting that oil & lube garages could set up on your street if Austin happened to be short of oil and lube garages.
In reality, big moneyed interests are eyeing our neighborhoods like tasty tarts, and, sensing easy tax revenues, the city is on the verge of allowing them to operate.
Let’s face it–it’s much cheaper to buy a residential home near –say Zilker or East Austin than to pay for commercial space close to the festivals or F1 action.
The interested parties are saying that the taxes generated would allow the City to police said CSTRs to prevent abuses and loud partying and bring illegal ones into the open. Don’t count on it.
Clearly illegal CSTRs are not being effectively policed now and given the potential increased numbers, it’s doubtful that even with some city regulation, policing would improve.
Even with possible improved regulation– CSTRs not only compromise the residential part of a neighborhood, but they will also eat up available housing that families with kids now occupy. Those kids fill our classrooms and their parents potentially work in the downtown businesses that the city is promoting in their growth plans.
We can say good-bye to any affordable housing in those areas.
Anyone who has lived in Austin for very long can see that what is presented as a reasonable compromise will likely become a full-blown incursion down the road. Rules will change, percentages will be altered and in sunshine of broad daylight your neighborhood will become hotel row—and no longer the charming caring community where you can raise your children and know your next door neighbor.
Just follow the money and you will find the truth that big dollar interests—realtors & Home Away/AirBNB are blowing some serious sunshine and twisting the facts.
What they’re doing is an effective end run around residential zoning and all the protective covenants and deed restrictions we rely upon to protect our neighborhoods from commercial incursion.
And they’re not doing it to fill a desperate demand or to bring jobs or any of those reasons that are being spouted. .
They are doing it to make big bucks—at the expense of our neighborhoods.
This is what needs to be seen in the bright light day.
Carol & Phil”
Members are encouraged to communicate with City Council Members to express their opinions regarding short term rentals, and support the positions of NSCNA, ANC and other groups in opposing commercial short term rentals in residential areas
