We do not need or want more vacation rentals.. This cripples the housing market for locals who are our work force on the island.
D
David Johnson
4 years ago
It’s sad to see homes sitting vacant for much of the year, as they are only used as VRs. Meanwhile, affordable rentals for island residents are few and hard to find. Even if someone finds one, they are only given a six months rental…as the owners want the place vacant for the summer. There are already too many VRs sitting around vacant.
S
Sarah Snowden
4 years ago
I agree with the letter.
J
Jack M Pedigo
4 years ago
We are an archipelago of islands and, as such, have limited resources. The increasing population growth in this county has stretched those resources to the limit. The last thing we need is to incentivize more, outside visitors who do not contribute to the community and use more of the limited resources needed by the citizens of the county. Yes, we need to freeze the no. of VR permits to the 413 made on August 20th.
S
Suzanne Myers
4 years ago
We do not need or want more vacation rentals.. This cripples the housing market for locals who are our work force on the island.
R
Rose McCollum
4 years ago
Please understand the need for more and greater support systems for the residents who live and work on the island. The businesses supported by the VRBO renters are struggling as well as the natural resources to deal with the lack of availability to permanent and longer term (ie summer worker) transients. The island needs its own people, not just more.
C
Carol Weiss
4 years ago
Please allow continuing diversity in our community by maintaining the cap on tourist rentals so our teachers and other workers can find rental homes.
A
Anonymous
4 years ago
Orcas resident
M
Melanie Thea Patten
4 years ago
Unlimited proliferation of short-term rental housing has ruined neighborhoods and destroyed communities all over the world. Here in the San Juan Islands we are seeing a preventable transition from a place where people really live to one where non-locals will dominate whole neighborhoods.
S
Steve porten
4 years ago
It’s imperative that we not let our community turn into a bigger tourist destination than it already is. Minimizing accommodations is one way to limit that. I am very much in favor of capping vrbo’s to the smaller limit
J
John Slater
4 years ago
Let's welcome tourism on terms that respect the precious resources and the fragile natural environment of the San Juan Islands, as well as the quality of life of the folks who call the islands home.
J
John oakley
4 years ago
I also do not want to increase the vacation rentals and in fact they should decrease with each home expires or terminates .
M
Maile Johnson
4 years ago
Counting abandoned, inactive, and other unknown VRP status categories as well as including noncompliant VRs in the total on which to base a cap, artificially inflates the cap number and rewards rule breakers for their bad behavior. Therefore, the only fair and meaningful number on which to base a cap is 413, the number of active, compliant VRs, along with the associated is-alden-specific caps (203 for Orcas). Please act with integrity for the good of the community not business lobbyists and honor your unanimous decision of September 17.
M
Michael Kardack
4 years ago
We the people pay taxes and deserve to be heard and pay government to serve us!
C
Cherry Malus
4 years ago
Freeze the VR permits; there are already too many.
E
ed suij
4 years ago
Moratorium and caps on Vacation Rentals, NOW!
L
Lisa Steckley
4 years ago
Please reduce the cap for VRs on Orcas. We cannot sustain the overcrowded conditions.
K
Kirman Taylor
4 years ago
Lopez is a unique tourist destination. We don't cater to tourists. Instead tourists are our guests who come here to let "Lopez Change You." The quiet communitarian sensibility that we have achieved must be guarded so we are not overrun with visitors who don't appreciate our community. Years ago we studied this situation and arrived at "sustainable tourism" as descriptive of our philosophy for tourism on Lopez. It's a vision of modest visitation by people who appreciate our quiet sensibility.
Further, I wish our County would address the much more urgent shortage of affordable rentals on Lopez.
A
Anonymous
4 years ago
There needs to be limits on growth
B
Beth Clemetson
4 years ago
Our household is another vote for you to HONOR YOUR PRIOR DECISION. How can this even be up for discussion? Freeze the VR cap at the active (and compliant) permit holder number of 413. Our communities are worth protecting.
We do not need or want more vacation rentals.. This cripples the housing market for locals who are our work force on the island.
It’s sad to see homes sitting vacant for much of the year, as they are only used as VRs. Meanwhile, affordable rentals for island residents are few and hard to find. Even if someone finds one, they are only given a six months rental…as the owners want the place vacant for the summer. There are already too many VRs sitting around vacant.
I agree with the letter.
We are an archipelago of islands and, as such, have limited resources. The increasing population growth in this county has stretched those resources to the limit. The last thing we need is to incentivize more, outside visitors who do not contribute to the community and use more of the limited resources needed by the citizens of the county. Yes, we need to freeze the no. of VR permits to the 413 made on August 20th.
We do not need or want more vacation rentals.. This cripples the housing market for locals who are our work force on the island.
Please understand the need for more and greater support systems for the residents who live and work on the island. The businesses supported by the VRBO renters are struggling as well as the natural resources to deal with the lack of availability to permanent and longer term (ie summer worker) transients. The island needs its own people, not just more.
Please allow continuing diversity in our community by maintaining the cap on tourist rentals so our teachers and other workers can find rental homes.
Orcas resident
Unlimited proliferation of short-term rental housing has ruined neighborhoods and destroyed communities all over the world. Here in the San Juan Islands we are seeing a preventable transition from a place where people really live to one where non-locals will dominate whole neighborhoods.
It’s imperative that we not let our community turn into a bigger tourist destination than it already is. Minimizing accommodations is one way to limit that. I am very much in favor of capping vrbo’s to the smaller limit
Let's welcome tourism on terms that respect the precious resources and the fragile natural environment of the San Juan Islands, as well as the quality of life of the folks who call the islands home.
I also do not want to increase the vacation rentals and in fact they should decrease with each home expires or terminates .
Counting abandoned, inactive, and other unknown VRP status categories as well as including noncompliant VRs in the total on which to base a cap, artificially inflates the cap number and rewards rule breakers for their bad behavior. Therefore, the only fair and meaningful number on which to base a cap is 413, the number of active, compliant VRs, along with the associated is-alden-specific caps (203 for Orcas). Please act with integrity for the good of the community not business lobbyists and honor your unanimous decision of September 17.
We the people pay taxes and deserve to be heard and pay government to serve us!
Freeze the VR permits; there are already too many.
Moratorium and caps on Vacation Rentals, NOW!
Please reduce the cap for VRs on Orcas. We cannot sustain the overcrowded conditions.
Lopez is a unique tourist destination. We don't cater to tourists. Instead tourists are our guests who come here to let "Lopez Change You." The quiet communitarian sensibility that we have achieved must be guarded so we are not overrun with visitors who don't appreciate our community. Years ago we studied this situation and arrived at "sustainable tourism" as descriptive of our philosophy for tourism on Lopez. It's a vision of modest visitation by people who appreciate our quiet sensibility. Further, I wish our County would address the much more urgent shortage of affordable rentals on Lopez.
There needs to be limits on growth
Our household is another vote for you to HONOR YOUR PRIOR DECISION. How can this even be up for discussion? Freeze the VR cap at the active (and compliant) permit holder number of 413. Our communities are worth protecting.