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) and 'Protecting Property Rights' (2022). Neither article passed and neither was based on facts - there is no published study or data to support the premises of either. With potential STR 'nuisance' issues already addressed with the passage of Article 39 (which Nantucket Together supported), the STRWG focused on other existing and potential future concerns. For example:
The trade-off for these regulations is defining STRs as legal in all zones where buildings are permitted, AS LONG AS AND OFNLY IF THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THESE GENERAL BYLAWS.
Many new Nantucket property owners will not be able to afford their dream primary or secondary home without the rental support that will now be restricted in the first 5 years of ownership.
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 unduly restricted in their path with STR rental restrictions?
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 fewer 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 there be reduction in STR tax revenue and if so, how will it be made up?
Can passage of the optional Community Impact Fee of 3% on operators of more than 2 non-primary residence STRs fill this potential revenue gap?
Will property values decline as properties are sold with restricted rental rights?
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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