BUCKLAND — The Planning Board hosted an information session this week to continue moving forward with attempts to regulate short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs.
“This subject has a lot of public interest,” said Planning Board member Andrea Donlon. “Buckland’s zoning bylaws do not address short-term rental even though it is a well-established business in town.”
A proposed bylaw would attempt to limit short-term rentals by making them allowed by special permit in certain areas while also allowing more leeway in owner-occupied residences.
Donlon explained the Planning Board has taken on short-term rentals as an issue because a 2016 study found that Buckland has a need for senior housing, housing for first-time home buyers and rental housing.
“Most things are the same still, but house prices have gone up a lot,” Donlon said of market changes since the 2016 study. “The affordability gap is much worse.”
In hopes of addressing some of these needs, Buckland made several housing bylaw changes in 2021, lowering the minimum size lot and allowing for the construction of accessory dwelling units.
The Planning Board explained a benefit of having short-term rentals is they contribute to the tourist economy. On the other hand, they indirectly raise the cost of housing for full-time residents by taking away available units and impact the community feel of neighborhoods.
According to the Planning Board, there were 20 short-term rentals in Buckland at the end of 2022 — with 18 being non-owner-occupied units — but there may be more or less given that some operate under the radar and others may not be in use.
The new bylaw would add a table for permitted use. The bylaw states that one to two rooms with overnight accommodations available for a short-term rental in an owner-occupied residential setting are allowed in all zoning districts. Short-term rentals for three to four rooms in an owner-occupied residential setting are allowed by special permit in all but one zone.
For houses with one to four bedrooms that are not owner-occupied, short-term rentals are allowed by special permit in the Village Center, Commercial and Historic Industrial zones. Finally, any house that has more than five bedrooms cannot be used for short-term rentals in any zone.
The new bylaw would also add definitions of “short-term residential rental,” “owner-occupied residential dwelling” and “lodging house.”
Additionally, it includes 10 bullet points outlining performance standards for short-term rentals. Some highlights include ensuring compatibility with neighborhood character, no loud noise, the property cannot be rented out for special events such as weddings without a special permit and the rental must be registered with the town clerk.
The short-term rental bylaws will now be brought to a public hearing at a date that is yet to be determined.
Many people at Tuesday’s information session expressed support for the proposed short-term rental bylaw.
“This feels much better and fits better with our community,” said Town Moderator Phoebe Walker. “I think this is a nice happy medium you have struck here.”
“I am glad we are approaching this topic,” said Selectboard member Joan Livingston.
Tuesday’s meeting also included a public hearing about proposed changes to the floodplain bylaws and regulations around living in a trailer or mobile home.
The Planning Board hopes to change the floodplain bylaws, which have not been updated since the 1980s, to align with the National Flood Insurance Program.
“The world has changed a lot since 1980,” said Planning Board Co-Chair Michael Hoberman.
An updated bylaw would add a floodplain administrator, a role that would be held by Town Administrator Heather Butler. The floodplain administrator’s responsibilities would include overseeing proper permit applications, coordinating with departments and other communities, and maintaining records relating to the floodplain.
The updated floodplain bylaw also states no new structures would be allowed to be built in the floodplain.
“We didn’t have any input in adding this,” noted Planning Board Co-Chair John Gould. “It is all recommended and vetted text.”
The board also hopes to add some wording to the bylaws outlining that people cannot live in a trailer or mobile home for more than 60 days in a 12-month period.
The proposed bylaws can be found on the town website at bit.ly/3FmHyvC.
Reach Bella Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.