Cape Charles Town Manager Responds to ES Post Story

Cape Charles Town Manager Responds to Misleading Report on Short-Term Rental Regulations.

Cape Charles, Va. — Cape Charles Town Manager has expressed strong disagreement with a recent report published in the Eastern Shore Post, which he claims misrepresented the town’s progress on regulating short-term rentals and inaccurately portrayed the council as “gridlocked” over parking issues.

In a letter addressing the article titled “Parking Issue Gridlocks Town Council,” which appeared in the August 16 edition of the Eastern Shore Post, the Town Manager emphasized that the town has been working diligently for over a year to develop comprehensive short-term rental regulations. He noted that while the issue is complex and solutions are not straightforward, the council has made significant progress.

“At a recent work session, council members coalesced around a package of regulations that will begin to significantly address many of these concerns,” the Town Manager stated. He highlighted that these regulations are now moving through the public process toward eventual adoption.

The Town Manager took particular issue with the Post’s characterization of the council as “gridlocked,” asserting that the article misleadingly focused on parking as the “most controversial” issue in the debate. He clarified that while parking is indeed a concern, it is just one of many controversial issues being addressed in the new regulations. The package also includes measures to ensure accountability in short-term rental operations and to set occupancy limits.

The Town Manager also expressed disappointment over how his comments were presented in the article. He explained that when he presented the parking issue to the council, he relayed the perspectives of different community members, noting that some believe there is no parking problem while others disagree. However, the Post only published the first part of his statement, leading readers to believe that he personally does not see parking as an issue.

“For the record, I most certainly do believe parking needs to be addressed with regard to short-term rentals. So does the majority of the town council,” the Town Manager clarified. He added that the council’s decision to defer action on the parking issue until a comprehensive town-wide parking analysis can be conducted reflects not gridlock, but rather a thoughtful approach to governance.

The Town Manager concluded by reaffirming the town’s commitment to addressing the complex challenges posed by short-term rentals, with the goal of balancing the needs of residents, visitors, and the local economy.