We need to listen to those who contribute to making our island a livable locality, including supporting those in service posts of all kinds.
J
Jamie Donatuto
4 years ago
Housing is already a problem; VRs are making it worse. Cap VRs before it becomes financially untenable for those of us who are not wealthy to live here.
M
Mary Stoll
4 years ago
I agree that we need to protect our beloved San Juans from overuse. I own a home on Orcas Island and our HOA CCRs prohibit short term rentals for a reason!
M
Mary B McCulloch
4 years ago
Orcas Island, in San Juan County, is my home- I, and my fellow Orcas residents, value this community of year-round, residents, as the main- stay of our community- socially, financially, & as a way to maintain and protect the Natural beauty of this unique location. We care for, contribute to, & work to maintain this Island's fragile environment- the variety of wildlife, unique forests, vegetation, fresh water lakes, & shoreline. I strongly urge you to protect these Islands, by freezing the number of Vacation rental permits, as decided by our Planning Commissioners- please, honor the wishes of our Orcas Island Community - we already struggle w/ the impact of the increasing/overwhelming, number of vacation homes. As American citizens, we have the right to protect our properties, homes & communities. And to share this w/ others in a way that continues to protect our beautiful home. Please, help us to maintain the Quality of our precious Island Life- it is truly a gift to All who spend time here Thank you, sincerely,
Mary B McCulloch, Eastsound, WA
M
michael kaulakis
4 years ago
This has to be taken seriously.
H
Heather Arps
4 years ago
As a long time resident, I see that for some, this could be a viable and necessary boost to income. But it is a few who reap the benefits of this lucrative business and the many who pay. While we do need short term rental options, we also need fair, equitable and reasonable oversight. We need a very strong and clear protocol in place to manage this resource. It is reasonable to limit the number of units available and to have a revolving lottery of permits to ensure that it is not just the small % of people who hold the lead line of this cash cow.
I know first hand that more than a few homes on Lopez were purchased by non-islanders who's sole intention is the lucrative business of short term rental. This is a problem for the average islander, working to provide services to the wealthy and the tourists. Not all who live here are wealthy and retired. Not all chose to be here because of a fantasy idyllic quality of life. Not everyone can just pack up and move elsewhere. Many of us old timers just like the sense of community, something that is being destroyed by fast turn around tourism that benefits a few. Community is something that requires long term commitment, nourishment, compromise and support. It cannot be sustained if one just takes and takes and takes with no end in sight.
These islands need long term affordable housing for essential workers who are the people that do EVERYTHING to keep a community going. We need affordable rentals and affordable homes so that the fabric of our communities stays strong in order to absorb short term rentals and tourists. Without us, there is no one to serve and clean up after the visitors. The few who make expanded incomes off the short term rentals do not pay extra for roads, emergency services, etc., agencies that their rentals burden. Let's find an equitable solution then WALK THE TALK.
G
Gay Graham
4 years ago
Perhaps it is time for our County Council to take a concentrated look at having any VRBO/VR to have a commercial license for renting out their homes for vacation purposes for less than a month. If people want to rent their homes without being a commercial enterprise, and paying the appropriate taxes and license fees, then without any charge from the County, rent their home for a minimum of 30 days.
W
Wendy Phillips
4 years ago
This must change. You have betrayed the trust of those you represesnt!
B
bo walker
4 years ago
Be accountable. Heed the request of your constituents or find another job.
E
Elizabeth dixon
4 years ago
While visitors to Orcas are an important part of the community’s revenue, if homes continue to be removed from the housing stock available to community members as they are converted to vacation rentals, then everyone loses - the visitors, who can’t find services because there are insufficient workers, and residents, who want to live and work in the area and also rely on those services.
T
Tara Anderson
4 years ago
Please help up us encourage a thriving local economy where homes are owned and lived in by local residents.
A
Anonymous
4 years ago
We have enough vacation rentals on SJI. We need affordable housing for people committed to living and working here. Please roll back the enlargement of the cap on SJI to what it was and keep our island a community. Thank you.
A
Ashley Kaye Ryder
4 years ago
Overtourism. Nowhere to live. Cap it at 400 please.
M
Martha J Huleatte
4 years ago
Enough is enough. It is time that you take the needs of the residents into consideration and not just the absentee landlords!
N
Norris Palmer
4 years ago
Blame the county for non compliance not us that abide by the rules. fix that first before you shut our busineses down.
N
Norris Palmer
4 years ago
Vacation Rental Certificate of Compliance for Existing Permit Holders
Every year vacation rental permit holders are required to submit a Vacation Rental Certificate of Compliance to the Department of Community Development. You must do this each year even if your permit is not active. Certificates are submitted between September and December 31 of each year. Currently we are accepting the 2020 Compliance Certificates that let us know that you operated in compliance in the year 2020. Vacation Rental Certificates of Compliance are submitted online through the County's Online Permit Center. In order to submit online, you will need the following information for the vacation rental:
Address
Parcel number
Vacation Rental Permit Number
Uniform Business Identifier (UBI) Number- if you are active, this is required. If you are inactive, just enter Not Applicable
Name of On-Island Property Manager
Address of On-Island Property Manager
24 Hour Emergency Contact Number
Number of Bedrooms granted by the Vacation Rental Permit
A scanned copy of your Rules of Conduct (ROC), if you made any changes in the last year. If you have not changed your ROC in the last year, you do not need to upload a copy.
Do you need to know if we have received your 2019 compliance certificate? Use this link to download a searchable excel spreadsheet of those that we received in 2019. You will need to click on the report entitled "2019 Vacation Rental Compliance Report - Active and Inactive".
B
B Sadie Bailey
4 years ago
Excuuuse me. I've know Ed Suij for decades - and you have just called him a troll. Stop the trolling and attacks NOW.
N
Norris Palmer
4 years ago
No proof that vrs take away from cheap housing.
N
Norris Palmer
4 years ago
Not enough sand....
N
Norris Palmer
4 years ago
Are you a scientist? What is the capacity of our island?
We need to listen to those who contribute to making our island a livable locality, including supporting those in service posts of all kinds.
Housing is already a problem; VRs are making it worse. Cap VRs before it becomes financially untenable for those of us who are not wealthy to live here.
I agree that we need to protect our beloved San Juans from overuse. I own a home on Orcas Island and our HOA CCRs prohibit short term rentals for a reason!
Orcas Island, in San Juan County, is my home- I, and my fellow Orcas residents, value this community of year-round, residents, as the main- stay of our community- socially, financially, & as a way to maintain and protect the Natural beauty of this unique location. We care for, contribute to, & work to maintain this Island's fragile environment- the variety of wildlife, unique forests, vegetation, fresh water lakes, & shoreline. I strongly urge you to protect these Islands, by freezing the number of Vacation rental permits, as decided by our Planning Commissioners- please, honor the wishes of our Orcas Island Community - we already struggle w/ the impact of the increasing/overwhelming, number of vacation homes. As American citizens, we have the right to protect our properties, homes & communities. And to share this w/ others in a way that continues to protect our beautiful home. Please, help us to maintain the Quality of our precious Island Life- it is truly a gift to All who spend time here Thank you, sincerely, Mary B McCulloch, Eastsound, WA
This has to be taken seriously.
As a long time resident, I see that for some, this could be a viable and necessary boost to income. But it is a few who reap the benefits of this lucrative business and the many who pay. While we do need short term rental options, we also need fair, equitable and reasonable oversight. We need a very strong and clear protocol in place to manage this resource. It is reasonable to limit the number of units available and to have a revolving lottery of permits to ensure that it is not just the small % of people who hold the lead line of this cash cow. I know first hand that more than a few homes on Lopez were purchased by non-islanders who's sole intention is the lucrative business of short term rental. This is a problem for the average islander, working to provide services to the wealthy and the tourists. Not all who live here are wealthy and retired. Not all chose to be here because of a fantasy idyllic quality of life. Not everyone can just pack up and move elsewhere. Many of us old timers just like the sense of community, something that is being destroyed by fast turn around tourism that benefits a few. Community is something that requires long term commitment, nourishment, compromise and support. It cannot be sustained if one just takes and takes and takes with no end in sight. These islands need long term affordable housing for essential workers who are the people that do EVERYTHING to keep a community going. We need affordable rentals and affordable homes so that the fabric of our communities stays strong in order to absorb short term rentals and tourists. Without us, there is no one to serve and clean up after the visitors. The few who make expanded incomes off the short term rentals do not pay extra for roads, emergency services, etc., agencies that their rentals burden. Let's find an equitable solution then WALK THE TALK.
Perhaps it is time for our County Council to take a concentrated look at having any VRBO/VR to have a commercial license for renting out their homes for vacation purposes for less than a month. If people want to rent their homes without being a commercial enterprise, and paying the appropriate taxes and license fees, then without any charge from the County, rent their home for a minimum of 30 days.
This must change. You have betrayed the trust of those you represesnt!
Be accountable. Heed the request of your constituents or find another job.
While visitors to Orcas are an important part of the community’s revenue, if homes continue to be removed from the housing stock available to community members as they are converted to vacation rentals, then everyone loses - the visitors, who can’t find services because there are insufficient workers, and residents, who want to live and work in the area and also rely on those services.
Please help up us encourage a thriving local economy where homes are owned and lived in by local residents.
We have enough vacation rentals on SJI. We need affordable housing for people committed to living and working here. Please roll back the enlargement of the cap on SJI to what it was and keep our island a community. Thank you.
Overtourism. Nowhere to live. Cap it at 400 please.
Enough is enough. It is time that you take the needs of the residents into consideration and not just the absentee landlords!
Blame the county for non compliance not us that abide by the rules. fix that first before you shut our busineses down.
Vacation Rental Certificate of Compliance for Existing Permit Holders Every year vacation rental permit holders are required to submit a Vacation Rental Certificate of Compliance to the Department of Community Development. You must do this each year even if your permit is not active. Certificates are submitted between September and December 31 of each year. Currently we are accepting the 2020 Compliance Certificates that let us know that you operated in compliance in the year 2020. Vacation Rental Certificates of Compliance are submitted online through the County's Online Permit Center. In order to submit online, you will need the following information for the vacation rental: Address Parcel number Vacation Rental Permit Number Uniform Business Identifier (UBI) Number- if you are active, this is required. If you are inactive, just enter Not Applicable Name of On-Island Property Manager Address of On-Island Property Manager 24 Hour Emergency Contact Number Number of Bedrooms granted by the Vacation Rental Permit A scanned copy of your Rules of Conduct (ROC), if you made any changes in the last year. If you have not changed your ROC in the last year, you do not need to upload a copy. Do you need to know if we have received your 2019 compliance certificate? Use this link to download a searchable excel spreadsheet of those that we received in 2019. You will need to click on the report entitled "2019 Vacation Rental Compliance Report - Active and Inactive".
Excuuuse me. I've know Ed Suij for decades - and you have just called him a troll. Stop the trolling and attacks NOW.
No proof that vrs take away from cheap housing.
Not enough sand....
Are you a scientist? What is the capacity of our island?