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Chatham closer to regulating short-term rental units

Apr 15, 2019 12:33 am
Emilia Teasdale reports in The Columbia Paper that the Chatham Town Board continues to discuss the short-term rental section of the proposed new zoning law. The proposal would require owners who rent out rooms to reside at the rental property for at least 183 days a year. Several residents who rent out their own properties spoke out against the zoning proposal at the meeting, and one Bed and Breakfast owner defended what she didn't see as competition. “To me, it’s apples to oranges,” Nancy Jackson, who owns the New Concord Bed and Breakfast said. Heather Uhler disagreed, saying police had to be called recently about a short-term rental on her street, Thomas Road. “There has to be some kind of restriction on this,” Uhler said. Eventually, at the meeting, the board lowered the residency requirement to 160 days. The Chatham board will have the county review the new law and start the state environment review in late April, and hope to vote on the new zoning law on May 28. The Chatham Town Board meets at 6 p.m. April 18 in the Town Hall. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.