Special interest groups have been proposing severe short-term rental restrictions on Nantucket property owners under the guise of supporting the Affordable Housing Initiatives (2021), 'Protecting Property Rights' (2022) and insisting that passage of the STRWG Bylaws package would "STOP UNLIMITED COMMERCIAL SHORT-TERM RENTALS" and that STRs account for only 1% of the spend on the island (2023). None of their proposed articles passed and none of the claims were based on facts - there is no peer reviewed published study or data to support the premises of any. See our FACTS, REPORTS and PRESS pages for details.
With potential STR 'nuisance' issues already addressed in the Town Code (Chapters 123 and 338), we must now focus on determining what, if any, additional regulations have voter consensus, wait for the judge to rule on the lawsuits and take steps to protect the right to rent if the decision reverses those rights.
The strategy for these possible post STM outcomes was to submit citizens warrant articles for 2024 Annual Town Meeting to defining STRs as legal in all zones where buildings are permitted, AS LONG AS AND OFNLY IF THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STR GENERAL BYLAWS that exist or are modified in the future.
Many Nantucket property owners will not be able to afford their dream primary or secondary home without the rental support that could be ruled illegal by a Land Court Judge or restricted by proposed Citizens Warrant Article M.
Will families who planned to acquire an additional STR property to generate income to support their retirement or put their kids through college, be able to do so or will they have to pivot to a new strategy?
Will affordable/attainable year round new homeowners be out of luck with this path to homeownership if STRs are outlawed?
One of the many paths to permanent residency is a familiar story. Vacationers come to the island and fall in love with it. After years of saving, they need to rent to afford the mortgage and ongoing maintenance. Will this force vacation homeownership to wealthier families who do not need to rent?
Will the elimination or reduction of STRs result in a reduced need for cleaning and landscaping services; less shopping and eating at local businesses?
Now the 3rd largest single source of town revenue, will the elimination or reduction of STR tax revenue impact needed services and infrastructure projects and if so, how will the loss be made up?
How will the passage of the optional Community Impact Fee of 3% on operators of more than 2 non-primary residence STRs become a reality if owning more than 2 STRs are ruled illegal by the passage of Article M?
Let's get these questions answered. Let's see how the registration process goes in its first year, what data it provides and be more sure about the next steps. But let us also directly deal with any new threats to neighborhoods and the community.
Since STRs have been an island tradition for over a century, and provide approximately 90% of the tourist lodging on the island, we considered the intended and unintended effects of these and other potential restrictions on the Nantucket economy.
The STRWG tried to take no action without a fact-based understanding of the potential consequences however there were data gaps. The data to assess the actual impacts needs to be defined and collected by the town's STR registry, analyzed and regulations tuned by some town-sponsored entity.
Protect Nantucket’s Character, Neighborhoods & Way of Life
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