CAPE CHARLES, Va. – The Cape Charles Historic District Civic League has asked the Town Council to consider changing zoning rules to allow full-time residents to use their accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as short-term rentals.
During the group’s July 9 meeting, which was attended by Town Manager Rick Keuroglian, members raised concerns about the limited use options for ADUs. Current town ordinance (§ 4.1.J.2.a) prohibits ADUs from being rented as short-term rentals (STRs) and requires that they be leased for at least 30 consecutive days.
The Civic League, which represents residents of the historic district, said ADUs were initially intended to address affordable housing needs through long-term rentals, but there is no clear data on how many ADUs are being used that way. The group said it wants property owners to have more flexibility and suggested limiting the STR allowance to full-time residents living in their primary homes.
At its July 17 regular meeting, the Town Council approved a resolution of intent to refer the request to the Planning Commission. The commission will review the proposed amendment to Article IV, Section 4.1.J.2.a of the zoning ordinance, hold public hearings jointly with the Town Council, and prepare a recommendation for the council’s consideration.
Town officials said the proposed change could affect affordable housing availability and the balance between long-term and short-term rental properties.
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Wealthy retirees now want in on the cash cow. Civic League? They previously whined about gentrification. They whined about affordable housing. No clear data because it was always a BS argument. Rent your ADU to a local employee. Rent your three unused bedrooms to a local employee. Gentrification? How about geriatricfication? Wealthy retirees living one or two “full time residents” in house once made for “working families “. The anti-STR crowd now wants in on the gig. If you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em.
What “affordable” housing?
I call BS! This is in response to the one appeal that has made news the last 6 months. How does anyone with half a brain think it’s a smart idea to add more STRs to existing properties that will require even more parking, trash collection and enforcement. Oh, let’s call it “an answer to affordable housing “, while they charge hundreds of dollars a night. Call it what it is, a request from a very few to increase their bottom line while stressing an existing problem even further.
The article includes a misleading sentence. The Civic League is not recommending “limiting the STR allowance”.
In 2022 the Planning Commission recommended an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to grant full-time residents the limited use of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) as a long-term rental (LTR). The Planning Commission hoped that the amendment would increase the number of LTRs thereby increasing the number of affordable/workforce housing units in the Historic District.
The resolution of intent that Town Council passed on July 17 recommends that the Planning Commission reevaluate this amendment to determine whether it has had the intended effect. It also gives the Planning Commission the opportunity to evaluate what the impact would be of permitting full-time residents the option of using their ADU as short-term rental (STR). The question to be decided is which ADU use would enable more full-time residents to afford living in the Historic District.
Editor’s Note: The sentence reads, “suggested limiting the STR allowance to full-time residents living in their primary homes”.
To all my compatriots on the Planning Commission back in 2015: I told you so. 😂
The Zoning Commission is impotent.
There is an employee (Not named Rick) who runs this town and tells both the Zoning Commission and Town Council what to do.
Ask anyone in Town Hall who has the last say on anything. The same name will come up every time.
Then you will start to see what is wrong in Cape Charles.
My other advice: take employees and council people people to lunch and build screen porches and things like that if you want to get anything done in Cape Charles.
The rule on ADUs was JUST put in place and was an attempt to establish some sort of rule set around STUs when there was no willingness to address real issues of what’s left of this community.
In a town like this, homes are “investments” rather than a family’s base and government is about collecting, increasing, ensuring tax revenue not about community.
It’s over people. Been over.
Note: This is 100% true.
On Monday the 28th, Town Council went into top secret session to discuss potential (no clue if probable) litigation and “settlement with Northampton County related to assessed values of certain properties within the Town”.
Did you know that Cape Charles handles all zoning issues independently and autonomously from Northampton County? Exmore too.
Considering all the “parcels” that change hands around here, especially down in the golf course neighborhood, I am sure everything is being handled properly.
Nothing to see here. Move along.