The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

We want to make sure the residents of Electric City are aware that our City Council will be considering a new City Ordinance that would allow short-term rentals (STR) in all residential areas across the City. Short term rentals, sometimes called “vacation rental by owner” (VRBO), allow property owners to rent a residence for a period less than 30 days.

If approved, this change would allow property owners to turn the house next door to you into a defacto motel, and in effect turn your residential neighborhoods into business districts.

Over six years ago, we purchased our home in a quiet Electric City neighborhood. Current zoning requirements prohibit rentals of less than 30 days in the City’s residential areas. About a year ago, a home near ours was purchased by a couple who do not reside in Electric City. Last summer, these non-resident owners began to use internet listings to improperly seek short-term renters for this house.

The practice shattered our once-quiet and family-friendly neighborhood. For most of the summer we endured a steady stream of transient tenants. Often it was large groups of vacationers who had little or no concern for our neighborhood or our community. We observed up to 24 young people screaming, using profanity, and having wild parties around the property. On occasion, we counted up to 12 cars and multiple boats parked along the already congested street near our home. We’ve had intoxicated people wandering down our street at all hours. Be aware that often the groups seeking short-term rental of a house are looking for a place to cut loose and party hardy!

Some of the antics we observed last summer raised serious concerns for the safety of the visitors and the nearby residents. We observed high occupancy numbers, tents set up in dry grass areas, careless smoking, excessive alcohol use, and indiscriminate use of fireworks. With dry summer conditions, this combination presents real risks to nearby homes and to the permanent residents of our neighborhoods.

When neighbors complained to the City, they were just told to call the police. We believe the police have enough to do without the City inviting these kinds of disruptions into our family neighborhoods! The City allowed this prohibited use to continue through last summer because the rentals were “already booked.”

A quick internet search will show that allowing STR/VRBO has already caused serious problems in many other communities. Many of these communities are now struggling to control these types of problems and the unwanted expansion of this practice. Although the proposed new ordinance may contain some regulations and a revocation procedure, we are very concerned that, as in these other communities, the regulations will be extremely difficult to enforce, enforcement efforts could become very costly for the City, and, once established, it may be near impossible to revoke this practice.

When purchased, the house near us was not zoned for this type of use. Based on a belated request from the new non-resident owners, the Council has directed work on a draft ordinance that would allow these types of problems across all the residential areas of our City. This change is opposed by many of the full-time residents in our neighborhood; it will offer no verifiable benefits for City residents, and it will present numerous problems for our City and residents.

We believe that allowing STR in our neighborhoods conflicts with appropriate residential use, and that it would be a serious mistake for Electric City to invite these types of problems into our neighborhoods. We understand that a similar request by different property owner was rejected several years ago but that the current position of some City officials is “it is now a different time with a different council.” We are hoping the Council will respect and represent the perspectives of the citizens and voters of the City, and carefully consider what is best for our neighborhoods and residents.

Debbie and I oppose any changes to zoning, regulations, or ordinances that currently prohibit residential rentals of less than 30 days.

Please be aware the Council is currently moving forward with a change proposal. If you share our concern that short-term rentals will impact our neighborhoods, please make sure your voice is heard! We encourage all concerned residents to attend upcoming Council meetings and public hearings concerning the proposed change that would allow STR next door to you. Please help us protect our property values and keep our neighborhoods safe and family friendly!