Friday, July 3, 2009

Talk surrounding short-term vacation rentals in the Lower Keys heated up in May, but now has died down.

In May, the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce stirred up the debate after soliciting input from its membership about their desires to see Monroe County's vacation rental ordinance relaxed to allow stays of less than 28 days. The topic has resurfaced every few years since the current ordinance was put in place about 12 years ago.

Lower Keys Chamber President Erica Garrick-Rodriguez wrote in an e-mail to the Free Press that a majority of the chamber's membership was for the change in rules.

"The majority of our members were for short term rentals; therefore, the board decided to write a letter of support with regulations to the [Monroe County Board of County Commissioners]," she wrote.

She added that no further public meetings to discuss the issue were planned at this time.

Even though the chamber's membership appears to be in favor, there is still a large population of homeowners in the Lower Keys who would likely fight such a change -- as they have done in the past. Although business owners like the idea of allowing short-term vacation rentals -- because it typically means more tourists in town -- it puts a greater strain on residential neighborhoods where the rental houses are located.

Unincorporated areas of Monroe County are limited to vacation rentals with a 28-day stay minimum. Municipalities such as Marathon, Key Colony Beach and Islamorada have ordinances on the books that allow shorter stays. Lower Keys business owners say their lack of commercial lodging facilities make it difficult to retain a large tourist base that is not simply driving through to Key West.

"There are areas appropriate for vacation rentals and I recognize the market needs. However, residential neighborhoods are not the appropriate areas," said Monroe County Commissioner Kim Wigington. "I believe there is very little support from neighborhoods for short term rentals and in fact believe there is quite a bit of opposition."

Monroe County Mayor George Neugent reiterated his desire for the issue to be brought in front of the general public.

"I don't think I've seen any formal proposal from the Chamber, nor any attempt to bring the opposition to the table for discussion," Neugent said.

Vacation rentals have typically been a contentious issue in the Keys. The Lower Keys neighbor to the north, the City of Marathon, saw vacation rental ordinances play a big part in its incorporation movement 10 years ago.

rbusweiler@keysnews.com