In addition to the risks of creating nuisances that reduce the quality of life in a neighborhood, non-hosted short-term rental units (STRs) remove houses needed to meet the needs of families that are looking for permanent homes. In Ledyard, even though STRs offer some benefit to our local liquor stores, gas stations, barbershops, and restaurants, they take business away from our Two Trees Hotel, Abbey's Lantern Hill Inn, Stonecroft Country Inn, and Mare's B&B Inn. Inns, B&B's, and hotels are taxed as commercial uses, while STRs are taxed as residential uses, which is fundamentally unfair. STRs are similar to non-hosted mini-hotels and should only be in commercial districts. I know that I would never rent or purchase a home for my family that was near an STR.

On Thursday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m., the Ledyard Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing to consider a proposed zoning regulation amendment to prohibit non-hosted STRs in single-family dwellings in residential districts. I urge everyone who has or might be impacted by an STR party house to attend and express their opinions. A copy of the application and the ZOOM access codes will be posted on Dec. 8 at https://townledyard.civicweb.net/portal/.

Eric Treaster

Ledyard