A first blush of a county short-term rental ordinance did not go well.

Those attending a recent Planning Commission meeting gave the ordinance a frosty reception, with Arthur Stewart calling the proposed law “draconian.” We’re not sure we’d go that far. There are issues with short-term rentals that county government has a legitimate interest in regulating. In our view, issues with traffic and loud parties from short-term rental properties that disrupt neighborhoods are something county officials should work to eliminate. One property owner’s right to use a property as they see fit should not impact other property owners’ rights to enjoy some peace and quiet in their own home.

The real issue here is finding an appropriate balance between the two competing sets of property rights. Putting limits on short-term rentals will upset those who have created a nice side business renting their property with no limits or regulations. It makes sense, though, that if neighborhoods aren’t zoned for a big box hotel, then county government shouldn’t let those same neighborhoods be overrun with smaller-scale hotels being run out of individual houses because the issues they raise are very similar.

County planners have created a draft. The public should engage with the Planning Commission and work with planners to find something everyone can live with.

Warren County needs a solution that is fair to both short-term rental property owners and their neighbors.