Ad Hoc Committee’s Balancing Act in the Quest for STR Regulation.
Town Council and Planning Commission to hold Joint Work Session to review STR recommendations.
November 2, 2023, Cape Charles Civic Center. Immediately following the Special Meeting.
Earlier this year, the Town established an ad-hoc committee to review the effect that Short-Term Rentals were having. Over the past five months, this ad hoc committee has been exploring short-term rentals (STRs) and the impact they have on the community.
The committee, composed of six members, was formed with a singular purpose: to investigate STR-related issues and provide invaluable insights to the Town Council and Planning Commission. While the group possessed no formal authority, its role as a working group is pivotal in fostering discussions that represented various perspectives.
The committee’s membership was made up of the following:
- A representative from the Town Council/Planning Commission, a voice of governance.
- The Cape Charles Historic District Civic League, the guardians of heritage and history.
- The Cape Charles Vacation Homeowners Association, reflecting the interests of property owners.
- The Bay Creek Community Association, advocates for residents in the coastal community.
- The Town Zoning Administrator, providing expertise on regulatory matters.
- The Town Manager, overseeing the town’s administration and operations.
The goal: “How does Cape Charles best protect and preserve the town’s sense of community, while recognizing the existing proliferation of STRs and their associated economic benefits?”
Preserving the Essence of a Community
The rationale behind their contemplation of STR regulation was twofold. First, it arose from a genuine desire to safeguard the character of residential neighborhoods. Second, it was rooted in a pragmatic concern – the stress on the town’s infrastructure.
The town can only support a finite number of residents and visitors before the saturation of public infrastructure became a pressing concern. Addressing this issue proactively was deemed essential, ensuring that the town continued to flourish while preserving its unique character.
The committee recognized that striking a balance between economic needs and practical concerns was essential. There was a unanimous resolve not to detract from the interests of those already invested in STRs while also ensuring that STRs did not impose unnecessary burdens on town residents.
The attached list of recommendations is listed below:
If you have a single family home that you enjoy yet do not currently use as a STR your future property value gets torpedoed as it has constricted utility for a future buyer. If you have a STR your property value will greatly increase due to so many other homes made unavailable by government decree. Be careful what you wish for.
NO STR’S in CC…!
Just curious…how many on Town Council own an STR, and will they have to recuse themselves from voting on these STR recommendations?
In the real world this would be the case….but this is Cape Charles…where the Mayor underwrites STR mortgages, the Town Mgr is on the Board of Main Street, and his assistant who considers herself second in charge is the wife of the Chief of Police…..yup, only in a small town.
The purpose of public service is to0 enrichen the public servant so that they can live in a style they would like to become accustomed to.
Otherwise, there would be absolutely no purpose in being a public servant, or reason to become one, with the result that nobody would want to be one, and then where would we be as a people and as a nation.
I’m thinking no…wouldn’t it been good to know the mayor underwrites STR mortgages in his day job? The newest council member has several STR rental properties…how kind of him to offer his condo as a LTR for 2k/mo…the only clean council member is Grossman. The overlap of council AND town Mgr to the Main Street organization should also be disclosed as well.