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www.newbuffalotimes.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
New Buffalo Planning Commission rejects two proposals proposing restrictions on short-term rentals
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BY STAN MADDUX AND FRANCESCA SAGALA
embers of the City of went into closed session to discuss a New Buffalo Planning confidential attorney-client privilege Commission opposed memorandum. two proposals with In a 5-0 vote, the planners opposed the regards to placing first proposal. The planners opposed the restrictions on short-term rentals at a second proposal in a 1-4 vote (planner special meeting Tuesday, Sept. 21. Bill McCollum was the “yes” vote). A public hearing was held Sept. 16 on a Chair Paul Billingslea said that proposed zoning ordinance amendment he’s “challenged” by the city’s current that would prohibit new short-term moratorium on the issuance of new rentals in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 zoning short-term rental licenses to Nov. 1 that districts. has “left people hanging.” The Planning Commission did not vote “There has to be a better alternative on the measure Sept. 16, which limits than this,” he said, adding that they the number of short-term can come up with one rentals in residential to recommend to the At the City Council neighborhoods to the council. meeting Sept. amount existed and were “I would recommend we 20 (see page 5), registered with the city vote this down, and we try councilmembers before the end of October. to craft something that’s adopted a Other stipulations not far off from this but resolution that of the measure include it’s a little more equitable, directed the short term rental owners at least in the meantime… planners to having to conform with It’s just unfair, it’s just “consider a motion regulations governing use completely unfair in my to recommend and having to renew their mind,” he said, which adoption of permit within 12 months was met with applause by the proposed after expiration to keep audience members that ordinance.” If the the permit. filled City Hall. motion “does not New owners would also Billingslea said he carry, the Planning have to obtain a renewal understands the “problem Commission is of the permit to keep with short-term rentals,” further directed to operating their newly adding that “just saying consider a motion acquired property as a it’s okay to have shortto recommend short-term rental. term rentals is not the adoption of the At the City Council answer – by any means.” modified proposal,” meeting Sept. 20 (see “It’s not just about which would page 5), councilmembers enforcing rules, it’s about “prohibit new shortadopted a resolution that the density of it - it’s not term rentals in the directed the planners to about the total number, R-1 district, but not “consider a motion to it’s about where those in the R-2 or R-3 recommend adoption of specific rentals are,” he districts.” the proposed ordinance.” added. If the motion “does not carry, the It was revealed that there are Planning Commission is further directed approximately 78 applications on the to consider a motion to recommend short-term rental waiting list, 45 of adoption of the modified proposal,” which are in R-1. which would “prohibit new short-term Billingslea proposed that the 78 rentals in the R-1 district, but not in the applications that are out there would be R-2 or R-3 districts.” processed, and then there’d be a cap on Before voting Sept. 21, the planners short-term rentals for a period of one
year “at that level” in R-1. “So, there would be no additional R-1 short-term rentals for a year beyond the 45 we would add by processing the 78,” he said. At the end of the year, the situation could be evaluated, and it would be determined if there could be more shortterm rentals in R-1. Numbers would be drawn in a lottery to determine who would get a permit. Planner Don Stoneburner said he needs more data before he can “make determination,” such as through a community survey. “I agree, we need to do more restrictions on short-term rentals, I just don’t think we’re going through the process correctly,” he said. Several audience members expressed gratitude for the planners’ decision. Gerry Gajos said he knows “you guys are listening to us.” “Work with us, contact us, we’ll be more than glad to give you the information what we’ve been doing for the last – myself 15 years - with never a problem,” he said. The Sept. 16 meeting drew a large, fired up crowd alleging such restrictions would do great harm to the local economy.
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aren Doughty told the Planning Commission Sept. 16 that she and other small business owners in the downtown are struggling already without a permanent cap on what brings a lot of visitors to the community. She said 80 percent of sales at her Designer Cottage Scapes of Harbor County gift store at 112 N. Whittaker Street are from people outside the area and many of them probably stay in short term rentals. “You’re getting ready to put a nail in the coffin for all of the small businesses downtown,” she said. Billingslea, who pounded his gavel several times to quiet the vocal crowd,
said he was not ready to cast a vote. “I’m trying to come up with a solution that works for everybody and that’s not easy. Some place in the middle is where we got to be,” he said. Over 100 people showed up for the meeting with some being forced to go outside and look through windows to watch because of social distancing of chairs in response to the upsurge in coronavirus cases. Several people against the proposed restrictions expressed anger with Mayor John Humphrey, who’s also a member of the City Council. He and other city officials are concerned about complaints of unrest in neighborhoods from parties, noise, traffic, and litter generated at some of the vacation homes. Many opponents of the proposal questioned whether there’s been a lot of complaints and felt there’s no longer not enough meat and potatoes jobs in areas like manufacturing to support the mayor’s vision. “The city is business owners, second homeowners, short rental owners, restaurant and beachgoers. Shop, winery, and brewery visitors. It is not just long-term residents. All of us make up this city and contribute to it in some way,” said Diane Gajos, a vacation homeowner. Jason Milovich, owner of Blue Fish Vacation Rentals, said the local tourism economy once vibrant just during the summer is now a strong heartbeat in the fall. “This is our identity. Period,” he said. Heather Gradowski said tourism is also a pulse now virtually year-round because of events and other attractions that draw visitors during the off-season. Gradowski said she supports “reasonable regulation” of shortterm rentals, but the ones currently proposed “slowly assures their death” and will also “assure a slow and painful death to this small city. I think we can do better than that.”
