New Orleans has 4 times as many STRs per capita as New York City!
If people making $ off STRS show up in much greater numbers than concerned citizens, it may signal the Commissioners (AND the City Council) that people do not truly care about reining in the STR industry so that it can be a good neighbor. YOU are needed tomorrow. The meeting is at the City Council chambers (river side of City Hall), at 1:30—we should have a more exact meeting of the time this item comes up; check our Fb page or our website (nfbywater.org) for updates. Sign in to speak or to show your presence (you can indicate whether you favor or oppose an expansion of the industry on the same card) and time-stamp the card.
This is a meeting of the City Planning Commission members—all citizen volunteers—responding to a report put out last week by the City Planning staffers. They will discuss the report, listen to comments, and then make a recommendation to the City Council, which will vote on it later. The new rules have to be in place by March 31.
5 Major Revisions to the City Planning Staff Recommendations for Short Term Rentals
1. Accessory Bed & Breakfasts
These must be included in the recommended density cap. Accessory Bed & Breakfasts will essentially bypass the density cap by allowing the conversion of homes into tourist accommodations on “capped” blocks. This omission undermines the entire purpose of having a density restriction.
Pg. 36, 20.3.I.2.g In residential districts and HU-B1A Neighborhood Business District, HUB1 Neighborhood Business District, HU-MU Neighborhood Mixed-Use District, S-LM Lake Area Marina District, MU-1 Medium Intensity, Mixed Use District, and MU-2 High Intensity Mixed-Use District, only one (1) Accessory Bed and Breakfast, Principal Bed and Breakfast, or large Non-Commercial Short Term Rental short term rental, is permitted per blockface.
2. Density Restriction – 1 per block face is too permissive
One STR per blockface allows 2 per block on every block. Multiply that by the number of available blocks in the city and the results are much larger than the current number of listings (including the illegal ones). If we truly want to restrict the over-proliferation of STRs in all neighborhoods, a better approach would be to restrict STRs by square. Many properties have multiple addresses on corners, creating confusion for safety and permits and permit seekers. Restrict all STRs and Bed and Breakfasts to one per square.
3. Commercial STRs need to be addressed
New Orleans traditional neighborhoods are noted by pockets of commercial corridors, main streets, and corner-store style businesses. These areas immediately abut residential homes. By not addressing the Commercial STRs, this will allow unfettered conversion of properties within the HM-MU, HU-MU, HMC-1, HMC-2, and HU-B1 districts. Additionally, it will invite an unrelenting stream of zoning change applications that will monopolize City Hall resources.
4. Owners need to be restricted, not just operators
The owner, not just the operator, must be restricted to 1 STR per person. Investors can purchase 6 properties and hire an on-site operator for each. This loophole still allows wealthy, individual investors great profits from the commodification of housing. Ideally, the owner and operator should be the same person, with the same residency requirements outlined already.
5. 10 is too many!
Ten occupants in a single residential dwelling unit is too many. Consider capping the occupancy limit to 6 people in residential neighborhoods.