Letters to the Editor: February 2025

A Sensible Solution: Preserve Local Homes, Regulate Corporate Takeovers

Short-term rentals, like those offered through platforms such as Airbnb, have become a hotly debated topic in local communities, including ours. Critics point out the potential for reduced housing availability and rising real estate prices. However, I believe it is crucial to separate two distinct scenarios: short-term rentals owned by local residents versus those controlled by large, corporate entities. As someone who has witnessed both the positive benefits of locally owned vacation rentals and the concerning trends associated with corporate buyouts, I offer this perspective to advocate for a more nuanced approach.

Local homeowners, like me, who offer short-term rentals often rely on the extra income to keep up with mortgage payments and property taxes and. Residents rely on this supplemental revenue stream to counteract the challenges many small-town communities face—such as lower incomes and fewer job opportunities—and to ensure they can maintain and upgrade their homes, which would otherwise be difficult without the extra source of income.

Platforms like Airbnb serve as a mechanism to earn money legally, bolster the local economy, and invest in community improvements. When neighbors own these properties, they typically invest more care and concern into the home’s upkeep and the quality of the guest experience. After all, they live in the same neighborhood and are vested in preserving its character and safety.

On the other hand, large real estate corporations or out-of-town investors who buy up properties can often outbid local families and contribute to rising property values and less affordable housing for those who live here. Additionally, absentee landlords frequently do not maintain their properties with the same personal touch or sense of responsibility as local owners, and a revolving door of unfamiliar renters with little to no personal relationship to property owners affects local neighborhoods and communities alike. 

This detrimental effect prompts a desire to legislate a fix. 

The logical step forward is not a blanket ban on short-term rentals but rather thoughtful regulation that distinguishes between individual homeowners and corporate conglomerates. City and county leaders might consider policies like residency requirements for short-term rental permits, limits on the number of properties a single entity can manage, or tiered tax structures incentivizing local ownership. These measures could help ensure that the benefits of short-term rentals—such as increased tourism, extra income for families, and funding for local improvements—remain in the community, while limiting the harmful effects of corporate real estate “takeovers.”

Ultimately, short-term rentals are not inherently bad. If managed correctly, they can serve as an economic lifeline for local residents and enhance the vibrancy of our neighborhoods. But if local governments fail to differentiate between owner-occupied, small-scale rentals and large corporate holdings, we risk seeing entire communities transformed by profit-driven investors with no roots in our town. It’s time to support smart policies that protect residents’ ability to share their homes responsibly while preventing the unchecked expansion of corporate-owned real estate. By doing so, we can preserve the charm, affordability, and neighborly spirit that makes our community a place we all love to call home.

A Local Air BnB Host and Long Standing Resident

How Safe is the New Disc Golf Course?

I have been interested to watch the addition and growth of the Ice House Canyon Disc Golf Course. The new course at the Besh Ba Gowah Community Center Park was built in a waterway that experiences periodic flash flooding. The disc golf community has created an inviting space for outdoor recreation. With chairs and benches in place, park users might confuse the flood zone with a safe place to hang out. To my knowledge, there have been warning signs posted to watch for flying discs, but no additional signage to warn of flash flooding. I am also concerned about the addition of materials and infrastructure that could wash downstream during a rain event, clog up at the next bottleneck, and create conditions for upstream flooding in the canyon. This could create an emergency and put the lives of residents and emergency workers at risk. The wash is home to many culturally and environmentally important native species of plants and animals. Was there an environmental impact study conducted before the installation of the course? I am curious about the planning and thoughts behind using this particular location for a disc golf course. I am concerned that the enthusiasm to create this really cool thing has allowed us to turn a blind eye to the regulations and planning processes that help keep us safe and protect nature. 

-Ice House Canyon resident interested in sustainable and safe recreation