Wednesday, May 23, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Tighterbrentalbregsbonbtable
By Sue Stafford
Correspondent
Despite protest from the
real estate community, the
Sisters Planning Commission
is recommending tighter reg-
ulation of short-term rentals
in Sisters.
Commissioners voted
unanimously on May 17
to recommend the Sisters
City Council approve Text
Amendment #18-01, which
covers a variety of topics
within the Development
Code. The amendment
requiring the most time
and receiving the most
public attention dealt with
Chapter 2.15.2700 Special
P r o v i s i o n s – Va c a t i o n
Rental Housing Units, revis-
ing VR/short-term rental
regulations.
Strong opposition came
from local Realtors who
mounted an email campaign
against stricter regulations
regarding short-term rentals
(STR). They were particu-
larly opposed to the lack of
transferability of a property’s
approval as a STR when it
changes ownership. They
claim the lack of transferabil-
ity could be a deal-breaker
for buyers who are purchas-
ing residences in Sisters as
second homes.
Realtors also questioned
the methodology for deter-
mining the percentage
increase in STR allowed each
year. They also requested
clearer language regarding
grandfathering of existing
STR.
On the other side of the
aisle, local neighborhood
residents expressed con-
cerns about dilution of their
neighborhoods with increas-
ing numbers of STR, not
having full-time neighbors,
noise and trash from renters,
and negative impact on their
property values.
The Planning Commission
and staff tackled the issue
of STR at the direction of
the City Council, which has
had as a goal for four years
the regulation of STR. They
are attempting to be proac-
tive rather than reactive in
addressing vacation rent-
als, which are impacting
all Central Oregon cities.
At issue are questions of
livability and character of
the community versus the
rights of private property
owners.
There are currently 67
STR properties in the city
approved or being reviewed.
With approval of the text
amendment by the council,
the cap would start at 104
properties and be increased
by four residential units
each year to account for
growth.
Currently the STR owner
must have land-use approval
and acquire a City business
license each year and pay
transient room tax. Under
the new regulations, each
STR owner would have
to acquire an operator ’s
license. For new properties,
an operator’s license would
be required in order to get a
land-use approval. The land-
use approval doesn’t run with
the land but rather with the
owner.
For properties that are
grandfathered in, if they
sell, the new property own-
ers would be required to
get an operator’s license
and would receive prior-
ity as far as the annual cap
is concerned, moving to the
front of any waiting list.
However, it would have to
be accomplished within 60
days from the time of the title
transfer.
Properties that receive
approval after adoption of the
text amendment is approved
by City Council will not be
eligible to transfer their STR
permit. Current STR owners
will be given until July 1,
2019 to secure an operator’s
license.
The City Council will be
reviewing the STR amend-
ment at their May 23 work-
shop, and at their June 27
regular meeting will hold a
public hearing before vot-
ing on the full #18-01 Text
Amendment.
Spring Fling
$300 Discount
CIVILbWAR:bEncampment
covered meadow for
three days
Continued from page 6
was General Lee’s favorite
cannon. And was widely used
by both sides,” Whattez said.
During the reenactment all
the members wear authenti-
cally reproduced clothing,
handle blackpowder weapons,
cook over open fires and sleep
in canvas tents.
21
Life during the Civil War
in 1863 wasn’t easy, and the
reenactment members pre-
sented their activities and
struggles during the war.
Visitors were welcome to
walk around and mingle with
the reenactors viewing life as
it was back in 1863 during the
war. They got the chance to
watch everyday lives of the
men, women, and children of
that time period.
“People are encouraged to
go around and ask questions,”
Banks said.
PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER MCNAMEE
Sisters resident Holly Foster possesses several letters from the Civil War.
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