Ahead of this year’s election, the CHSTRA reached out to each of the candidates running for Mayor and Town Council to get their take on STRs in our community. Below is each of their statements for you to consider as you head to the polls.
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Candidates for Mayor
Mayor Pam Hemminger [Re-election]:
“I strongly support hosted rentals and rentals of private primary residences which benefit local residents as well as visitors to our town. I am, therefore, pleased that the council supported a charge that will allow the Task Force, with the help of Dr. Badgett, to focus on questions of investor-owned rentals and look forward to hearing the group’s recommendations on that matter and the other issues (safety, registration and occupancy tax) that were identified.”
Joshua James Levenson, Mayoral Candidate:
“I support families renting a few rooms in an extra space to make ends meet, but large rental groups renting dozens of units like a hotel to push up rental fees should have safety regulations and guidelines similar to hotels.”
Candidates for Town Council
Mayor Pro Tem Jessica Anderson [Re-election]:
“Generally, I think STRs are a great way to allow people to experience our town, for hosts and guests to get to know each other and spend time with people they otherwise might not meet, for hosts to supplement their income and maintain creative careers that otherwise would make Chapel Hill unaffordable, and provide quality options for people who need or want something beyond a hotel experience. I am pleased that the Council is moving forward with our task force in a way that will not limit anyone from renting out part of their home or all of their home if it is their primary residence, as the only thing we want to avoid is out-of-town investors buying up much-needed housing stock. I hope the STRA will continue to engage on this issue as it makes its way through the process so we can get the renter perspective along the way.”
Council Member Nancy Oates [Re-election]:
“I have no problem with people renting out rooms in their house while they (the homeowners) live there. I am open to what the task force finds out as they research the impact and unintended consequences of whole-house STRs in other university towns similar to Chapel Hill. We need to know the pros and cons and impact on other markets before we make any decisions about regulations. Because I’m a longtime advocate for affordable housing, a red flag went up when council automatically granted the authority for accessory dwelling units and garage apartments to be STRs without examining the impact that might have on the affordable housing market. ADUs were allowed in Chapel Hill in order to expand the number of affordable units. Because ADUs have smaller square footage, by default they have a lower rent. They often are rented by grad students and others who live on a budget. Where will these people who need affordable housing go? Who would they displace? These are the issues that the task force will consider, and my “no” vote was because ADUs and garage apartments need to be examined, too.”
Council Member Michael Parker [Re-election]:
“I put short-term rentals into three buckets. There are the folks who have a bedroom or garage apartment or something like that who live in the property while the short-term renter is there, and other than making sure we’re getting the appropriate taxes and making sure people are safe on both sides, I think that’s fine. Then we have some whole-house rentals for people who rent episodically while they are not at the property, and again, I think we should make sure people are protected regarding health and safety, and there are no nuisances – I’m fine with that. Then the third bucket is whole-house rentals that are essentially investor-owned, a house that is effectively available for rent 365 days a year and the owner is not on-premises. I think these are the ones we need to take a harder look at how we regulate them, making sure they’re in conformance with our zoning regulations… It’s like so many other things, such as scooters. Our world is changing – this year it’s short-term rentals, next year who knows what it will be. As a society and as a community, we just have to figure out how to make everything work in the best interest of everyone. I’m certainly not someone who would say ‘Lock the gates and keep things away.’ Things change, we just have to figure out a way to make them work in a way that’s fair and equitable for everybody.”
Sue Hunter, Town Council Candidate:
“Chapel Hill’s current regulations were developed before short-term rentals really took off. Their popularity has grown for good reasons – they offer flexible and economical options for families, for those coming to our community for longer-term medical care, and for those who are considering relocating to Chapel Hill and want to “try out” a variety of neighborhoods. Offering a range of short-term stay options – including hotels and AirBnB options – is also good for Chapel Hill’s economy as they keep tourist dollars here, regardless of family size, length or purpose of stay, or financial status. AirBnB also provides a source of income for our current residents who rely on that extra income to remain in Chapel Hill as our property taxes and cost of living continues to rise. AirBnB is part of the new “sharing economy” that is here to stay. The role of the Town government is to ensure regulations are in place that ensure the health and safety of all visitors and this is where the Council should put its focus. There is no evidence to date that multiple units or whole houses are being purchased in Chapel Hill for the sole purpose of STR use and there are regulations currently in place to address complaints should they arise, such as noise, or parking issues.”
Tai Huynh, Town Council Candidate:
“My stance on STRs is I support STRs and I think they are a great way for members in our community to supplement their income, especially those in the creative community who I have talked to. I don’t think they interfere with our hotel industry. I would also support exploring potential regulations of STRs, given that a robust engagement effort was undertaken that included different stakeholders. I don’t think I’ve talked to anyone that thinks there should be absolutely no regulation of STRs. I know that the town has formed a task force formed to explore the topic more in-depth.”
Amy Ryan, Town Council Candidate:
“I’ve rented from both AirBnb and VRBO, so I’m a fan from the user end. It was interesting to hear from Chapel Hill residents who came to speak to us about their experiences, especially their choice to do short-term rentals as a way of making the mortgage on their primary residence more affordable. There are a lot of issues to deal with — nuisance complaints, health and safety inspections, collecting room tax, etc. — and I’m glad the town is establishing a task force to examine them. My hope is that we’ll come up with a reasonable system that allows short-term rentals in town while protecting the safety of renters and the peace and privacy of neighbors.”
Renuka Soll, Town Council Candidate:
“I support some restrictions on short-term rentals, especially the buying of houses for the purpose of renting the entire homes out like unregulated hotels. We also don’t want people to turn homes they own into full-time hotels with no permanent occupants in it. For residences with a permanent occupant, I support renting of space, such as an extra bedroom, on a short-term basis provided that the unit complies with certain health & safety regulations, such as fire safety; possesses appropriate insurance; and complies with all state & local tax obligations. All the regulations should be developed by the Town through a process that solicits opinions from all stakeholders, including neighborhood associations, short-term rental operators, & local hoteliers. It’s important to hear from all the parties that are affected by the current situation and would be affected by regulation during this process when the Town Council deliberates on the final proposal.”