Letter to County Council re Vacation Rentals

Until and unless the ferry system chaos has been resolved, we must restrict summer visitors at current maximum levels. We cannot take any more!

413 is still too many, half of that is too many in my opinion, but it is a start. I support this cap.

The reasons are clear why this is so needed. Although this won’t solve the problems we are suffering, it is a first step.

Please listen and act on our concerns to keep Lopez from being even more overwhelmed than it already is.

Enough is enough! we want our neighborhood back!

While it appears complex, the parable of the killing the goose that laid golden eggs applies. And though you have heard many sides of this discussion, it isn’t about being fair to everyone. We are asking for a change of philosophy that is about preservation and protection of sense of place. Change is never comfortable. No, this is not about who is wealthy, who is entitled, who was here first. The Coast Salish People were here first and I don’t see their interests referenced in our pleas. Drawing a line is always challenging. You can do it, steer this monolithic initiative with incremental challenging visionary decisions.

VRBO’s are not healthy additions to neighborhoods or folks who have properly invested in providing vacation stays for our visitors like small hotels, motels and Bed & Breakfast locations.

A greedy minority is eroding the values which bring people to the San Juans

The greed of Money will eventually destroy the nature and well being of the San Juan islands

The San Juans are fragile & need special care. Our water alone is a crucial issue. Money is NOT the bottom line!

I have an actual stack of notices from Permit Resources regarding vacation rental applications adjacent to my home in the Orcas Highlands. Enough is enough!

We do not need our islands resources squandered irresponsibly. We as island residents should have a voice that has the same sway as off island investors and major chain operations like Airbnb. These vacation rentals are allowing people who do not live here or do live here and are hoarding money and housing to dictate how our very limited resources will be used.

Please protect our neighborhoods.

With all the problems from ferries to water and so much in between,, residents need to come first.

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.

In my eyes, the freeze voted in was a win-win decision honoring some of the concerns of a majority of residents and a minority of vacation rental owners. The flip toward expansion is an assault. What are our options? Cultivating/supporting new representatives who will actually act in the interest of an entire community? Create highly visible protests? ?

We need to share our islands with wisdom not greed.

Please, please please, limit VR's. and make sure that all active VR's are compliant with regulations.

In what world is it going to be ok to increase vacation rentals by over double! This decision may well be there straw that breaks the camals back for me. I have been trying for 7 years to make a permanent home happen on Lopez Island and it is impossible. With this decision, if it goes forward, I am being shown that there community is not willing to do what it needs to even care for it's own health. How can I feel good about staying when I see the community butchered and sold off? This is so sad.

I thought the county reps already froze the VR limit at current level. Now the Planning Commissioners want to raise it by over 50%. What a betrayal! What kowtowing to business interests!