Buena Vista trustees talk about short-term rentals but table further action - by Tara Flanagan - The Ark Valley Voice

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The Buena Vista board of trustees agreed at its regular meeting Tuesday that short-term rentals attract tourists and help feed the economy. But they also agreed that investors who buy up housing stock to place into the Airbnb and VRBO markets are not doing long-term renters or potential home buyers any favors.

They agreed, too, that affordable housing is at the root of the issue, and that with or without short-term-rentals in the picture, Buena Vista and the rest of Chaffee County have had a tight supply of worker housing for a long time. As well, they said, with Salida and Chaffee County placing regulations on short-term rentals, Buena Vista may become even more of a magnet for investors.

But after a 45-minute discussion, the board opted for a wait-and-see approach: deciding to look to town staff to bring up any issues, seek out a deeper conversation with the planning and zoning commission, and mine any new data from Chaffee County’s new Multijurisdictional Housing Authority after the group gets its feet on the ground.

The board voted 4-2 to table any action on short-term rentals without a specific date, with trustees Cindie Swisher and Amy Eckstein voting no.

Municipalities around the country have adopted regulations around short-term rentals after watching them drive down long-term rental stock and drive up sale prices. There are also scores of stories about noise, out-of-control parties, or neighbors simply not liking the flow of people in and out of the house next door.

But there are also the many stories – perhaps the majority – of people making some income on the side by renting out a room or cabin, or placing their second homes into the short-term pool when they don’t plan on using them.

Swisher said Buena Vista needs to evaluate its own situation rather than rely on information from towns elsewhere. “I don’t care what anybody else does,” she said. “It has to fit our town. We need our public’s opinion.” She added that she didn’t want to overburden staff in the search for data.

Eckstein said she would like to see the board move forward on some form of policy, particularly regarding investors who are buying up housing to put into the short-term pool. “I think the data is there to show we are having a lot of investor activity,” she said. Without any limitations, I have concerns.”

Mayor Duff Lacy said Tuesday evening’s discussion was the third go-round by the board. “Do we constantly keep bringing it up and letting it float down?” he asked, noting that he’d like to see quarterly reports on the matter and give the housing authority a chance to get going.

Town administrator Phillip Puckett said the number of licensed short-term rentals ebbs and flows through the year. He said there are currently 105 known, short-term rentals in town between licensed rentals and those who need to update their licenses, adding he estimates the numbers could rise by summer. He doesn’t anticipate a tremendous spike in 2021.

“Based on the trend we saw in 2020 and 2019, staff is not thinking it’s going to go above 130,” he said, “But I think if we saw numbers start to substantially rise, staff would bring it to you.”

Principal planner Mark Doering told the board that town staff has been “trying our best” to get short-term rental information to the planning and zoning commission, but “we are a busy planning department and we have a lot of stuff coming through the door.”

He also said the Town needs to make decisions specific to Buena Vista and not copy the efforts of “Denver or Durango or Gunnison.”

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Buena Vista trustees talk about short-term rentals but table further action - by Tara Flanagan - The Ark Valley Voice
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