As Pooler explores regulation of short-term rentals, residents voice concerns
In anticipation of growth expected for Pooler, the city is looking to crack down on short-term rentals, regulating what some fear could become a problem.
A draft ordinance was presented at a Pooler City Council meeting Monday, and a moratorium was issued to halt the issuance of business licenses for short-term rentals for six months. The city also held its first town hall in recent memory, according to Mayor Karen Williams, in packed council chambers Tuesday.
Around 30 residents and property owners spoke, with few seeming to be outright against short-term rentals in Pooler but sought stricter regulations than the ones the draft ordinance proposed. Safety, security and zoning were among the biggest issues voiced.
"We have pride, family and honor in our motto," said Holly Young. "I'm a native of Pooler, I've lived here all my life, and those are the things I love most about our community, is that we live in a safe neighborhood, safe community. By allowing strangers into our neighborhood that haven't been vetted, we're just asking for trouble."
Young's sentiment was echoed several times by different residents.
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"Short-term rentals take away from family," said Kimberly O'Connell. "I know there are short-term rentals among us right now, but I think they detract from the family atmosphere of Pooler. Also, if you had a 30-day rental, you could have a turnover of 12 new neighbors a year. In reality, it's going to be much more than that."
Up until this point, the city of Pooler has not had an ordinance regulating STRs, and anyone who wanted to operate one had to apply for a business license. There are currently an unknown number of STRs in Pooler, though Williams said that with the ordinance in place they'll be able to track and enforce the new regulations.
A few residents suggested that neighbors should be notified when someone is applying for an STR license in their area like they are for a rezoning, and they should get a say in whether or not they want one there.
Some also had issues with the zoning of STRs in the draft, which allows for them in all residential districts R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4.
"I don't think any of us here tonight will argue the necessity of such an ordinance," said John Hinley. "However, with this ordinance, many of us in this room tonight feel like our rights and privileges are being denied. If such practices are allowed in R-1 single family residential zones will become a thing of the past. Families looking to buy homes will shy away from a home located next to these units."
Several current owners of STRs shared positive experiences they've had owning and renting out homes. They wanted to encourage Pooler officials to consider those when tweaking the ordinance and ease the mind of the residents who were wary of it.
James Hall, the chairman of the RPAC committee for the Savannah Area Realtors Association, also came up to share a critique of the draft in relation to transferring certificates. Currently, the draft ordinance states that no certificate may be transferred or assigned or used by any person or entity other than to whoever it was originally issued to.
"I believe that is part of property rights, but also in order to make the house more sellable," Hall said. "I do believe that if there is a certificate that it needs to be transferred over to the new owner and I would encourage you guys to strike this section."
He also suggested that they take a look at Savannah's short-term rental ordinance for transferability, which allows for the certificate to be transferred if the new owner applies for a permit within six months from the closing date.
Williams said they pulled inspiration for the ordinance from Savannah and Atlanta, among other similarly sized cities.
"[STRs] are just kind of flowing this way," Williams said. "Pooler hotels are less expensive than Savannah. A lot of people will stay in Pooler, where it's safe, and we have the restaurants they want and the facilities they want. Then they can go to Savannah to sightsee."
Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for Chatham County municipalities for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at dambus@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Pooler, Ga. short-term rental ordinance under consideration
