BOCC STR Update & stracc planning meeting!

11/24/2020

BoCC Update & Upcoming STRACC Meeting!

Dear STRACC,

In today's workshop session, the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) continued their assault on STRs by drafting further restrictions into the proposed code. Needless to say, it’s getting worse and worse for STRs, but STRACC has a plan to get organized before the Public Hearing, currently set for Dec 22. More on that below, but first here’s a quick summary of today’s session. Specifically, the Commissioners.....

Confirmed their plan to ban all non-owner occupied STRs in Rural Waterfront (RW) and Rural Village (RV) zones.
Retained the minimum lot size of 5 acres even in the RR2.5 zone.
RR20 and RR10, and RR5 with minimum lot sizes of 10, 5, and 5 acres respectively.
Allowed STRs in RRR zone with no minimum lot size.
Changed the permit fee structure:
- Tier 1 (owner-occupied): $500 annually
- Tier 2 (non-owner occupied): $500 first time, $900 second time with inspection, $500 annual renewal
- Tier 3 (occupancy over 12): $2020 first time including CUP, $750 annual renewal
  - Capped Tier 3 occupancy at 24

Today's session focused on the BoCC's goal of reducing STRs to 5% of all housing units countywide. Currently, about 13% of all dwellings in the 98826 zip code are STRs so the County is aiming for a pretty drastic reduction. The Commissioners eventually decided on a lottery system to determine which owners could apply for a permit to operate an STR. Only STRs in permitted zones would be eligible.

Feeling Lucky?

Under the new code, you would need to get lucky in the STR lottery to apply for a permit even if your STR is in a "permitted" zone (i.e., RRR, RR5, RR10, or RR20). Otherwise, you will no longer be able to operate. If your STR is in a "non-conforming" zone like RW, RV, or RR2.5 on a lot smaller than 5 acres, you're out of luck and would be outlawed after a 3-year grace period. Period.

The Commissioners are clearly singling out some zones over others. The Community Development office’s analysis estimated that 354 out of 1020 rentals in rural areas of Chelan would be eliminated, the vast majority coming from RW or RV zones, while leaving other zones like RRR untouched. (The definition of RW and RRR in the County Code both similarly allow for "recreational and tourist activities.") The reasons for this targeting are not clear, in part because the Commissioners’ reasoning keeps changing. The County's hasty analysis also somehow assumes that only 2 out of 178 in RR2.5 would disappear, despite the requirement for STRs to be on lots double the minimum size (5 acres in a zone with a 2.5 acre minimum). So their estimate is most likely way undercounting the number of STRs that would be eliminated.

Why the Rush?

The BoCC is running out of time to pass the code in 2020. They’re desperately rushing to pass something before Tiffany Gering replaces Doug England as District 3 Commissioner at the start of next year, because they know that she was endorsed by STRACC and will support STRs. Trying to ram an unfinished, poorly structured, and thoroughly inequitable ordinance through before Tiffany can represent the will of the voters on this matter would be shameful behavior by the BoCC, even if we weren't in a pandemic where people are already suffering economically.

Fortunately, the BoCC was unable to finalize the draft code tonight, and the Commissioners acknowledged they won’t be done by next Tuesday, Dec 1. They also know they need share the finalized draft code with the hearing announcement, two weeks before the public hearing. So they are now aiming to finalize the draft code at their next workshop session on Dec 8, hold the public hearing on Dec 22, and a vote on Dec 29. Two days before the New Year. We need to apply pressure and make sure that doesn't happen!

So Let's Get Organized!

STRACC is planning an online meeting for STR supporters to learn about our organization, get involved and start planning for the Public Hearing on Dec 22. We will introduce you to the STRACC board, go over our finances and share an overview of our legal strategy going forward. We hope you will join us and get involved so we can pressure the County to hear our voices. The meeting is set for December 3rd at 6pm via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89693118268?pwd=QlRxOXdsV0xVUDV2RHJZU01aQVpUUT09. Mark your calendars!

Thanks,
The STRACC Executive Board

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