*Only San Juan County residents please! Any names that are not verifiable SJC residents will be removed from the list.
Dear San Juan County Councilors:
We, the undersigned residents of San Juan County, request that you respect and hear our voices and honor the decision made in good faith by the Planning Commissioners on August 20th, 2021, to freeze the number of vacation rental (VR) permits at the current “Active and Compliant” number of 413, along with the associated island-specific caps.
The Need for VR Caps
Vacation rentals are high-traffic, high-turnover, public-facing business operations that enter uninvited into our residential neighborhoods. They hold undeniable power to transform a community forever. We need relief – guardrails – to protect our homes and neighborhoods from this power.
Active and Compliant
On August 20, 2021, SJC Planning Commissioners voted unanimously to support the will of the people and freeze vacation rental caps at the current “Active and Compliant” number of 413. They received hundreds of letters and petition signatures in support of this decision and heard from business owners and community members alike. Prior to the October 15 meeting, the Planning Commission received this petition, at that time signed by 575 verified SJC citizens suffering from the proliferation of vacation rentals.
The Reversal
At their September 17 and October 15 meetings, instead of honoring the August 20th decision, Planning Commissioners let down the greater San Juan County community by reversing themselves to increase the cap, gratuitously allowing 237 “Inactive” permit holders to be included in the permanent cap limit. This action, if allowed to stand, would increase VR permits by 57% and effectively lock in a level of disruption already deemed too high.
A Narrow Set of Findings
As part of this reversal, the Planning Commission elected to selectively uphold the “financial benefits” of vacation rentals – a 1% interest group – over and above the wishes and concerns expressed by the vast majority of island citizens. This is unacceptable.
Remedies
The San Juan Islands are facing monumental problems, including a failing ferry system and lack of affordable housing. Businesses are struggling to meet the demands of excess tourism. Housing and rental prices are skyrocketing and neighborhoods are being transformed by the proliferation of short term rentals. The Planning Commission and County Council have been sent a multitude of statistics and studies which illustrate the detrimental impact of vacation rentals on neighborhoods and small communities.
The role of the Planning Commission and County Council is to honor the integrity and greater needs of the community, not to cater to business lobbyists and second home owners. Please freeze the VR cap at 413 while associated problems are being studied.
Thank you from the residents of Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
October 13, 2021
October 12, 2021
We are approaching 500 signatures and need to hit this milestone before we present our case to the Council. Text this link to three neighbors right now and tell them why their residency verification is vital for this petition.
Reached 100 supporters
October 11, 2021
October 9, 2021
We are approaching the 100 signature milestone and need a final push to force the Council to pay attention. Post the link to your Facebook page and text three neighbors who live in the county to sign today.
343 Comments
I have lived on Lopez since 1968. The islands are becoming just like anywhere else. I'd like to think that community is more important than money, but it is hard to have community when you go shopping and rarely see the same people more than once.
Vacation rental approvals don't appear to consider the vast number of people who don't want or support them in their neighborhoods. For zoning that has them as discretionary, I can't understand why opposing voices are ignored.
Keep the islands wild, rural, quiet and natural. The islands are not a cash machine but a place to keep natural and live in limited numbers. Stop flooding our islands with tourists by providing more housing. Stop putting profit over people, animals, nature and quality of life.
Please freeze vacation rentals at the current level of 413. VR permits should not be grandfathered with the sale of a house. Protect San Juan Island from becoming a tourist haven that negatively impacts the quality of life for islanders.
Please honor your prior commitment in August and protect the limited resources of our fragile islands. Between the current shortage of affordable housing for residents and the ferry challenges, this is the best option during these times.
the islands cannot continue to support this change in our sense of community and our resource cannot support more tourists.
We need to protect housing for locals by eliminating some current rentals and if we can stop developers from scooping up everything that should also be addressed.
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*Only San Juan County residents please! Any names that are not verifiable SJC residents will be removed from the list.
Dear San Juan County Councilors:
We, the undersigned residents of San Juan County, request that you respect and hear our voices and honor the decision made in good faith by the Planning Commissioners on August 20th, 2021, to freeze the number of vacation rental (VR) permits at the current “Active and Compliant” number of 413, along with the associated island-specific caps.
The Need for VR Caps
Vacation rentals are high-traffic, high-turnover, public-facing business operations that enter uninvited into our residential neighborhoods. They hold undeniable power to transform a community forever. We need relief – guardrails – to protect our homes and neighborhoods from this power.
Active and Compliant
On August 20, 2021, SJC Planning Commissioners voted unanimously to support the will of the people and freeze vacation rental caps at the current “Active and Compliant” number of 413. They received hundreds of letters and petition signatures in support of this decision and heard from business owners and community members alike. Prior to the October 15 meeting, the Planning Commission received this petition, at that time signed by 575 verified SJC citizens suffering from the proliferation of vacation rentals.
The Reversal
At their September 17 and October 15 meetings, instead of honoring the August 20th decision, Planning Commissioners let down the greater San Juan County community by reversing themselves to increase the cap, gratuitously allowing 237 “Inactive” permit holders to be included in the permanent cap limit. This action, if allowed to stand, would increase VR permits by 57% and effectively lock in a level of disruption already deemed too high.
A Narrow Set of Findings
As part of this reversal, the Planning Commission elected to selectively uphold the “financial benefits” of vacation rentals – a 1% interest group – over and above the wishes and concerns expressed by the vast majority of island citizens. This is unacceptable.
Remedies
The San Juan Islands are facing monumental problems, including a failing ferry system and lack of affordable housing. Businesses are struggling to meet the demands of excess tourism. Housing and rental prices are skyrocketing and neighborhoods are being transformed by the proliferation of short term rentals. The Planning Commission and County Council have been sent a multitude of statistics and studies which illustrate the detrimental impact of vacation rentals on neighborhoods and small communities.
The role of the Planning Commission and County Council is to honor the integrity and greater needs of the community, not to cater to business lobbyists and second home owners. Please freeze the VR cap at 413 while associated problems are being studied.
Thank you from the residents of Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
October 13, 2021
October 12, 2021
We are approaching 500 signatures and need to hit this milestone before we present our case to the Council. Text this link to three neighbors right now and tell them why their residency verification is vital for this petition.
Reached 100 supporters
October 11, 2021
October 9, 2021
We are approaching the 100 signature milestone and need a final push to force the Council to pay attention. Post the link to your Facebook page and text three neighbors who live in the county to sign today.
343 Comments
Vacation rentals that are located on an owner inhabited property are acceptable. Vacation rentals on otherwise uninhabited properties are a business use and should be restricted and regulated as such. A moratorium on non owner occupied properties should be in effect.
I have lived on Lopez since 1968. The islands are becoming just like anywhere else. I'd like to think that community is more important than money, but it is hard to have community when you go shopping and rarely see the same people more than once.
Vacation rental approvals don't appear to consider the vast number of people who don't want or support them in their neighborhoods. For zoning that has them as discretionary, I can't understand why opposing voices are ignored.
Keep the islands wild, rural, quiet and natural. The islands are not a cash machine but a place to keep natural and live in limited numbers. Stop flooding our islands with tourists by providing more housing. Stop putting profit over people, animals, nature and quality of life.
Please freeze vacation rentals at the current level of 413. VR permits should not be grandfathered with the sale of a house. Protect San Juan Island from becoming a tourist haven that negatively impacts the quality of life for islanders.
Please honor your prior commitment in August and protect the limited resources of our fragile islands. Between the current shortage of affordable housing for residents and the ferry challenges, this is the best option during these times.
the islands cannot continue to support this change in our sense of community and our resource cannot support more tourists.
We need to protect housing for locals by eliminating some current rentals and if we can stop developers from scooping up everything that should also be addressed.
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Vacation rentals that are located on an owner inhabited property are acceptable. Vacation rentals on otherwise uninhabited properties are a business use and should be restricted and regulated as such. A moratorium on non owner occupied properties should be in effect.