With STR limits, we would maintain healthy tourism in Idyllwild.
Limits would bring back quality of life for residents.
Limits working in other communities …
-A 10% cap on the number of STRs per number of homes. And number of STRs per road so less people are surrounded. This would make existing permit holders more attentive while reducing fire evacuation issues.
-An R1 phase out. Limit STRs to near commercial areas. This would end issues on small roads, reduce evacuation issues and put customers near businesses.
-Hosted only. Require owners or managers to be onsite. Most of the restrictions in CA do just that.
-Phase out of STRs on non-county roads. They are dangerous for both renters and neighbors and a burden on residents who pay to maintain the roads.
-Density limit would also act as a cap. STRs must be 300 yards apart. Grandfathering.
-All options here could offer grandfathering or phaseout time periods.
What an amazing county STR website looks like (San Bernadino, just to the north).
If we do not get fair rules from the County supervisors, we can achieve Charter City status or Incorporation. Small local government deciding how our million dollars a year in TOT plus other existing taxes are spent. Rivco collects more than it spends in 92549. It would be a year long process but with state help, it is not expensive. We are hoping limits will solve most of our STR issues.
Are STRs good for businesses?
Limiting STRs will still allow for a ton of local tourist spending while increasing resident spending.
From CoStar Realty, a major commercial real estate data provider for the US:
Within a 5 mile radius of the Bluebird Inn we have …
-226 businesses.
-1493 employees.
-900 employees traveling 30 minutes or more to work – offhill.
This leaves 593 local employees. It is about 15% of our full time population. Many have experienced steep rent hikes over the last few years as long term rentals have become more scarce.
One of the biggest old companies in town with a dozen full time employees quotes problems. Including the “I need it by 3pm” demands of STR managers. And dealing with entitled guests who are mad. All of it affecting their ability to provide quality service to their good resident clients. This owner is afraid to charge more or fire clients (the two ways I deal with it) because of legit concerns of Yelp pushback etc.
I work with the huge local tree contractors doing all of the SCE work. Companies with dozens of employees. They are negatively affected by STR traffic, working around difficult STrenters and finding reasonable housing for staff.
And Realty. There will be another boom if/when any area gets phased out from STRs. STR selling of course and the influx from very excited families and workers and retirees who will be able to buy in a beautiful area completely free of the issues brought by STRs next door.