A proposed change to the ordinance concerning short-term rentals in the City of Gainesville drew concern from residents at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
Some spoke in outright protest against the change, which included adding the term “short-term rental” and clarifying what city zonings allow short-term rental properties.
Graham Williams said his Airbnb properties have provided a better option for travel nurses in the area.
“The same people that were going to the hospital during this pandemic, that needed nurses to care for them, those nurses were staying in Airbnbs,” said Williams. “No one who moves to a city for a week, or for three months, or two months wants to stay in a hotel.”
Nan Williams, whose family has owned a rental property for 10 years, says short-term rentals are a better option to long-term rentals.
“I would say a good forty percent of the people who have rented from us are people who live in Gainesville, are renovating their property and they have nowhere to go because none of the hotels that are available will allow them to take their pets,” she said.
The amendment defined short-term rental to include Airbnbs and Vrbos, which have become a popular alternative to hotels in recent years. The amendment also limited the time of stay in a short-term rental to 15 days.
Under the city’s Unified Land Development Code, short-term rentals were previously defined as a lodging service.
Some speakers voiced concern that having short-term rentals in their area would take away from the neighborhood atmosphere of their communities. Like Bob Owen, who spoke on behalf of the R-1 Preservation Group.
“Allowing single-family, detached homes to become businesses instead of neighbors will be disastrous to the fabric that binds our R-1 neighborhoods together,” said Owen.
Under the proposed amendment, short-term rentals would not be allowed in R-1 residential zoning districts. However, they would be allowed in areas zoned in the Residential and Office, or R-O district, located along Green Street and portions of Candler Street, North Avenue and Forrest Avenue.
The council ultimately voted to pass the amendment, but not without much thought and consideration, as stated by Mayor Sam Couvillon.
“These are the types of decisions that are rendered and really do cause anguish and anxiety for us,” said Couvillon.
The council also voted to deny a special use for a 70-unit townhome development on Florence Drive off of Browns Bridge Road.
Three residents of nearby townhome neighborhoods spoke out in opposition to the development, citing concerns of traffic on the narrow road.
Councilman Danny Dunagan made a motion to approve the request, but the motion did not receive a second.
