|
(zWire) Faced with complaints from residents, the Marco Island City Council has created an ad hoc committee to alleviate concerns about the onset of vacation rental properties in the island. This first step action hopefully will be the start for the solution of the problem. These concerns are related to the excessive noise, people, and property damage that residents have experienced.
The ad hoc committee created to monitor the statues of vacation rentals consists of representatives from the Marco Island Area Association of Realtors, the Chamber of Commerce, a vacation rental agency, Police Chief Roger Reinke, Code Enforcement Director Eric Wardle, Community Development Director Steve Olmsted and four representatives of the general public. Furthermore, a non-voting chairperson from City Council will serve on the committee. The four citizen appointments are yet to be approved by the City Council.
Marco Island Councilman Chuck Kiester and his wife Jane Kiester proposed the creation of the ad-hoc committee to the City Council. This move reflects the rising concerns of key residents in the island.
“This is a running hotel in a residential neighborhood,” Resident Ken Honaker said wryly.
“Code enforcement and the police can’t do anything. It’s is just a living hell.” These strong words were supported by Greg and Karen Salvi who urged the City Council to take steps in form of ordinances to solve the current dilemma.
According to a memo prepared by Community Development Director Steve Olmsted, “The city of Marco Island does not directly regulate the rental of vacation properties, although the city's code of ordinances does contain requirements that regulate associated impacts including noise, and parking of vehicles.” In addition, the city's code also restricts the number of unrelated people living in a single family home to four. In certain areas of Naples, visitors are allowed to rent a home for a month as a conditional use.
"There must be some kind of ordinance that can help us out," Greg Salvi said. "We are asking the city council to pass an effective ordinance," Karen Salvi said, adding that she hoped the council would consider a minimum one-month limit to home rentals.
The creation of the ad hoc committee relieved most residents especially the Salvi family in which Greg Salvi expressed delight that action has been made to solve the situation. "It's a start, but we've been fighting this for a long time," he said.
|