Nov 2019 Update

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View this email in your browser Nov 2019 UPDATE & A Call for Help Dear *|FNAME|* After months of letter writing, personal appeals, meetings, testimony and the help of our attorneys, on October 24, 2019 the Chelan County Planning Commission denied the 1st and 2nd draft of the Short term Rental code suggested by Community Development and closed the hearing. The process starts all over again in January 2020. This is a minor victory for us but the fight is not over. This January the County will start over with another attempt to see what they can get passed by the planning commission. We need to remain strong in fighting for our property rights. Our attorney’s efforts before the planning commission and to the Board of County Commissioners has made a real difference and we have used about 70% of the funds that we have raised. If you are a member of STRACC, or even a friend of the cause, but have not donated yet please do so now. If you are not a member please consider becoming one and donating now.  We need to continue this fight. Click on the link below to join or donate. Will you help a property owner under attack? Below you will hear from one of our members who is up against the county and is in the appeal process.  We need to help her win. If she loses her appeal it will negatively impact our fight. So this is an URGENT call for help. Please read below and write a letter to the hearing examiner. She has given you the directions on how to do that with a couple of examples.    The County Staff is wrongly interpreting the code and trying to use administrative fiat to accomplish what the County Planning Commission would not let them do. Their efforts must be challenged and stopped. We have also attached some talking points that will help you frame your support or arguments against additional regulation. This doesn’t need to be a lengthy letter but we do need many letters sent and sent out soon! Please sit down and write a letter and mail it by November 22nd. The hearing is December 4, 2019.  If you are able to attend this public hearing please do. A plea to all vacation rental property managers and owners: Hello, my name is Reava Davis. I have been an owner and manager of two vacation rentals in Peshastin since 2013. Two years ago in September 2017 I received a letter from Chelan County stating that I was violating codes by operating a vacation rental and that I need to stop immediately. It started with a complaint from a single neighbor. Nowhere is it stated that vacation rentals aren’t allowed in our community codes. For the last 2 years I have been challenging the County on this supposed code violation, spending thousands in lawyer fees and trying to retain my property rights as a home owner. Washington state law states that a vacation rental is the same as a long-term rental and should not be discriminated against. I have been tempted to give up the fight, due to the financial and emotional toll it has taken. However, I was recently encouraged at a STRAAC board meeting, that this case could be pivotal, setting a precedent for all future vacation rentals. This is where you come in.... I have a hearing coming up on December 4th, and ask for the support ALL who benefit from vacation rentals. I need you to voice your support for vacation rentals in letter form, (it can be a sentence or two) and send it to: Chelan County Community Development Attn: Emily Morgan 316 Washington St, Suite #301 Wenatchee, WA 98801 You can also email: Emily.Morgan@co.chelan.wa.us. If you email it must be a scanned letter that has your “original signature”. The requirements below state what the county will accept. “Chelan County welcomes written public comment on all proposed land use actions. Comments must include your name, address and original signature. If you’re an owner of a vacation rental, I might suggest using the address of your rental. These letters should be sent in ASAP, (hopefully a week before the hearing). I’m including a couple of samples of a letter that could be sent to the county in order to help provide you motivation to take action. Example 1 In regards to the Davis’ appeal, Project File # AA 2091-005 It has been ruled by the State Supreme Court that long and short-term rentals are the same. In addition, Chelan County benefits greatly from the revenue of vacation rentals. Placing additional restrictions on them would be redundant with those that are already in place. I am in support of vacation rentals. Example 2 In regards to the Davis’ appeal, Project File # AA 2091-005  Until recently the County’s interpretation included the following:  • “The rental of a single-residence as a single unit for overnight accommodation does not result in a change of land use.”  • “The length of a lease or rental agreement is not regulated by the zoning code.”  • “The zoning code does not differentiate between an owner-occupied residence and a renter occupied residence” Thanks, STRACC Executive Board JOIN STRACC & DONATE STRACC Facebook Page STRACC Website Email Us Copyright © 2019 STRACC, All rights reserved. https://www.straccwa.org Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

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