Opinion: Regarding short term rental concerns

To the Editor:

As proposed, the draft Short Term Rental (STR) bylaw is contrary to the Marion Master Plan goals of Village Style residential areas and expansion of affordable housing for families and empty nesters. It ignores the Marion Housing Production Plan goals: (1) Promote housing options for those with moderate and fixed incomes, (2) produce housing options to support safe and accessible housing for all ages. Zoning is the use of ordinance to partition the Town into sections reserved for different purposes (residence, business, industry). Residence is defined as the act of dwelling in a place for some time, the place where one actually lives; as distinguished from a place of temporary sojourn (a STR). The draft STR bylaw ignores these established concepts.

Previously I raised important questions with respect to the STR bylaw: (1) What is the justification for proposing by-right, non-residential use in all residential zones, (2) what is the justification for no cap on the number of STRs in Marion, and (3) what is the justification for having no limit on the number of STRs owned by a single entity? These questions remain unanswered.

As written, the proposed bylaw will result in the disruption of family residential neighborhoods. Who will be your neighbor tomorrow? It will result in the loss of any reasonably affordable housing in Marion. It is not in the best interest of Marion residents.

Norman Hills
Resident