Short-term rental expansion may be discussed by Board
By Randy Bell
The Board of Aldermen may consider the possibility of allowing short-term rental housing in areas of Clinton other than Olde Towne. The historic district is currently the only place in the city where such accommodations are permitted.
A City ordinance defines a short-term rental as “any building or portion thereof that is available for use or is used for accommodations or lodging of (guests) paying a fee or other compensation for a period of between two (2) and twenty-nine (29) consecutive days.”
Ward 6 Alderman James Lott says, when the issue was debated in 2022, the Board wanted to see how short-term rentals would work on a limited basis before entertaining the notion of a citywide expansion.
“That’s something we discussed, when we first created the ordinance – trying it out in Olde Towne instead of having it all over the city, so we could control it and kind of mold it and tailor the ordinance to make it digestible for the rest of the city.”
Lott says now’s a good time to take a new look at short-term rentals.
“My goal is just to bring the discussion up again and allow the rest of the aldermen to voice their opinion on the good and the bad, what we could do to make [the ordinance] better and whether it would be feasible to expand [short-term rentals].”
He says his own constituents have voiced pros and cons.
“I’ve heard people wanting the opportunity to [have a short-term rental] with their property, and then I’ve heard from other homeowners who don’t want it in their neighborhood.”
According to Lott, adding a provision allowing neighboring property owners to block a short-term rental might be a way to proceed.
Ward 5 Alderwoman Beverly Oliver says there’s not much debate in her part of the city, with several homeowners’ associations amending their covenants to preclude short-term rentals.
“I think it would be detrimental to our older neighborhoods,” Oliver says. In her ward, she points out, there’s already “a ton” of longer-term rental properties, and Oliver is concerned that short-term rentals would sit vacant much of the time.
If you would like to see what can happen to a neighborhood when you open it up to rentals, take a drive through Woodmoor sometime. We are an older neighborhood so we expect changes but rental properties have contributed to the decline of the peacefulness and enjoyment of our properties due to the lack of upkeep on these rentals. Investment companies that own these properties are only interested in their tenants paying their rent and renters come and go because they are only here temporarily and don’t have any money or blood, sweat and tears invested here. Trash is thrown out in the streets and at the entrance to Woodmoor and speeding cannot be controlled nor can the noise from loud mufflers and music. Yes, we have an HOA but only on paper and there is no accountability. No one wants their neighborhood to have these problems and I know that all renters are not irresponsible and I’m not blaming them for all the issues we have. Just some food for thought when considering allowing rentals in Clinton.