October 7, 2015 HNA Executive and Zoning & Development Committees Letter Regarding Short Term Rentals

Mayor and Council:

Members of the Hancock Neighborhood Association's Executive Committee and Zoning and Development Committee urge the Mayor and Council members to support Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and Council member Leslie Pool's proposals for Type 2 and Type 3 short term rentals. Ours is a neighborhood which knows the negative impact of Type 2 short term rentals; it is not only the noise of gatherings or parking, it is about allowing our residential neighborhoods to be hospitality centers and encouraging investors to buy and/or build duplexes and residential housing for the purpose of short term Type 2 rentals. This type of investment activity will only increase if a high number of users--a proposed cap of 10 for a house, and as many as 20 for a duplex, as we understand it — are allowed in short term Type 2 rentals. This is outrageous.

The hospitality industry claims that no growing city in the U.S. has been able to regulate Type 2 STRs except by permitting them through licenses. We reject this argument. Austin’s Code Department has failed to enforce the rules that we have today. If they were to do so, the deterrent effect would become apparent.

But fundamentally Type 2 Short Term rentals should not be in residential areas.

As to Type 3 short term rentals, we find it incomprehensible that the Mayor and Council would continue to allow 25% of a multi family project to be used as Type 3 STRs while at the same time there is pressure to densify our neighborhoods.

Mark Harkrider, Pres. HNA
James Harkrider, Vice Pres. HNA
Mary Sanger, Sec. HNA
Bruce Fairchild, Tres. HNA
Linda Guerrero, Chair HNA Zoning Comm.
Carolyn Palaima, Past Pres. HNA, member HNA Zoning Comm.
Bart Whatley, member HNA Zoning Comm
Hugh Bender, member HNA Zoning Comm.