VOTE YES ON BOTH STR ARTICLES AT THE 2024 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
We Support the Article 59 & 60 STR Bylaw Package at Annual Town Meeting
COMPLETED INITIATIVES
ONGOING INTIATIVES
PLAN B - A SIMPLER STR BYLAW PACKAGE - A group of full and part-time residents (who were not actively engaged in STM Prep) saw the writing on the wall and collaborated on slimmed down versions of Articles 1 and 2 which now appear as Citizens Articles 59 & 60, slated for vetting by the town for Annual Town Meeting on May 7, 2024. A huge thanks to Attorney Steve Cohen who has long defended the right to rent short-term, for sponsoring these articles and making a clear case for them when speaking to the local media. And a special thanks to Michael Kopko and the Town who had submitted different general bylaw articles, for getting together and comproming on a single version which is now Article 60.
These articles are meant to work together but are not linked for voting purposes; each will be voted on independently. The purpose of each is as follows (click on Article to read the rationale and details for each with changes to existing bylaws highlighted):
EMERGENCY LODGING INITIATIVE - Ferry and airplane cancelations are a common occurence with which most of us are familiar but sometimes we have no back-up plan. It doesn't happen often but sometimes visitors to the island for a day-trip are stranded, wedding attendees cannot return to the mainland as planned. If it is off-season, traditional lodging is very limited and during the summer, just unavailable.
Weather and other emergencies may also strike year round residents whose pipes burst and/or have no heat during winter power outages, or flooding may have rendered their home termporarily unsafe.
Many of us who are blessed with a home on Nantucket, are prepared to open our home, a room or rooms in our home to help our neighbors and visitors, for free, for a cleaning fee or a reduced rate in situations like these.
We are still looking for more 'volunteer homes' for our Emergency Lodging Coordinator to access and are offering our website and Facebook Pages as a clearinghouse for volunteer and assistance requests. The plan is to connect visitors/travelers with homeowners and a list of available homes. We would love to add yours - please navigate to our Emergency Lodging page on this website.
The draft pledge to neighbors is designed to be customized by individual homeowners who rent so is provided in an editable format and the Guest pledge is designed to be used by your rental agency or in your online rental platform under your house rules.
A PLEDGE TO OUR NEIGHBORS
As most of you know, the right to rent one’s Nantucket home to visitors was threatened this past year. Although Article 90 was soundly defeated, it would have resulted in the forced sale of homes families enjoyed for decades as well as severe economic harm to the island’s tourist-based economy. We have welcomed our guests to the island whether for a day, a week or a lifetime. The warm welcome extended to visitors from far-away lands is a Nantucket tradition going back centuries.
However, the growth in popularity of Nantucket has impacted noise, traffic, light pollution, housing and parking, all important quality of life considerations on a small island.
The worsening of these problems is due to many factors, not only short-term rentals, but as owners we need to do our part to improve the situation. The Select Board cannot simply enact new regulations. Everything must go to a vote at the annual town meeting, with zoning amendments requiring a 2/3 vote.
In the interim, short-term rental owners, organized under Nantucket Together are taking the initiative to try to make some improvements.
You will find attached to this note a “Pledge” we are including with our lease and circulating to our guests. We are also contributing to a (to be implemented) registry of visitors where there has been damage to our home or any home, or where a police report has been filed due to a disturbance.
In summary, if we are unable to self-regulate in some manner, ultimately regulation and restriction will be forced upon us. Thus, we are trying the “Good Neighbor” approach as a first step and plan to extend it to car rental agencies, real estate brokers, island transportation agencies, visitor’s services and hotels, inns and B&Bs.
1. Screening the quality of our guests (no parties or under age 25 lessees)
2. Communicating to our guests the importance of limiting:
a. Noise: from the property at all times of day, but especially in the evening.
b. Light pollution: minimizing lighting at night, especially outdoors.
c. Traffic: emphasizing the island is very “bikeable,” to limit the number of cars; no more than one for every 5 people renting a home and encouraging the use of the NRTA/WAVE.
d. Parking: If guests are visiting a home, making arrangements to not block streets during that time, and encouraging more walking and biking in to town.
Warmly,
Xxxxxx & Yyyyyyyyy & Nantucket Together (www.nantuckettogether.org)
Thank you, & please let us know if there are other ways for us to be good neighbors to you!
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NANTUCKET TOGETHER
Section 501(c)(4) community organization
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