Some short-term rentals operate like hotels, residents say.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – During a lengthy meeting Thursday, Feb. 9, the Board of Commissioners obtained input from residents and short-term rental operators about the city’s plan to limit overnight stays to two nights or more. Nearly 40 people attended the meeting via Zoom, while numerous others attended in person to speak on the issue.
It was the second opportunity for residents and operators to weigh in on the topic. A public discussion was held last July, and the commissioners have been mulling over ideas to eliminate some of the complaints about party houses, noise, and a lack of on-street parking.
Commissioners said they are also considering limiting the number of short-term rentals one person can operate, requiring proof of liability insurance, noise monitors and posting each unit’s occupancy load at the front door of the rental property. Also, under consideration is limiting the number of units that can be rented in one building and limiting the occupancy load of guests and visitors.
The city currently permits short-term rentals for one night, but residents say one-night stays do not benefit the business community an only disturb the peace with people slamming car doors or making noise at 4 a.m. when they return after partying at casinos in Atlantic City or attending concerts.
Operators said there should be a “three strike” rule for noise or overcrowding complaints, that could result in an operator losing their mercantile license, essentially putting them out of business. Others agreed that operators advertising their properties as “party houses” should be shut down and not permitted to operate.
Commissioner Lance Landgraf said the ordinance should be revised to protect residents from neighbors who are essentially operating a business in a residential neighborhood. However, he is not interested in replicating neighboring Margate’s 7-day requirement.
“I’m not willing to go that far,” he said.
Successful operators suggested requiring noise monitors inside units that automatically notify operators that the noise level exceeds an acceptable limit. Another operator suggested requiring video doorbells at the front and rear of the rental properties so property owners can monitor comings and goings.
Property owner Beth Kwart said she has had 163 one-night rentals at her beach block property without any complaints. The building contains several studio apartments that can house up to two people, much like a bed and breakfast or small hotel but without the need to provide off-street parking.
Danielle Manero who lives on Suffolk Avenue said there is no difference between a one-night short-term rental and a motel or hotel.
“They are here for one reason only, to go to Atlantic City and concerts. They are here partying, come back at 4 a.m. waking everybody up,” she said. “All I’m hearing is business, business, business, and money, money, money. We need families that are going to go to our businesses, eat dinner, walk to eat ice cream and fall in love with Ventnor and buy the homes. Having an on-site owner is different, but when you have all these corporations coming in and buying 10-15 homes taking from having year-round residents to make a profit, they don’t care what happens. It’s not fair for us to deal with this so they can profit.”
Since her neighbor sold their home last year, she has been dealing with “riffraff,” and she believes operators should be paying a hotel tax.
One operator said it is not his intention to “police our guests.”
“We don’t want to micro-manage our guests while they are on vacation,” he said. “But we can try to pre-emptively prevent it by screening them well.”
He said the city can set occupancy loads for guests and their visitors, but it would be very difficult to enforce.
The commissioners said they would take everyone’s comments into consideration when drafting revisions to the existing ordinance.
Landgraf said he hopes to have the ordinance introduced in March, which will prompt another public hearing before it is adopted, and have it in place by April, ahead of the busy summer season.
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