The Oregon Legislature will soon take up debate on whether Oregon’s land use laws should be changed to allow Vacation Rental Dwellings, VRDs, in any area zoned for housing in Oregon, including the Oregon Coast.

Senate Bill 621 would allow VRDs anywhere housing zoning exists, which predictably has stirred up a hornets nest among those who bought homes thinking their neighborhood would remain a neighborhood – not a sprawl of over-stuffed vacation houses, condos and apartment.

The letter below, submitted by a News Lincoln County.com reader, explores the issue further:

Dear Senate Committee on Business & General Government,

I Strongly Oppose SB 621 which would allow all pre-existing or new homes to be used as Vacation Rental Dwellings (VRDs), in all residential areas across Oregon. No restrictions!

On the Oregon Coast, we have a housing emergency. One cause is the growing number of vacation rentals. We cannot house even our current local work force, whether it is for the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, NOAA, State or Federal Agencies, etc. It has been a free-for-all for absentee property owners to designate a vacation rental anywhere dwellings exist. This has caused a severe lack of rentals for workers, whether it be for Government, Industry, Recreational or Service & Hospitality. Vacation Rentals have eliminated such a large number of rentals that our coastal communities can’t provide enough housing for those who live and work here year round. It’ll make it worse by converting more and more rentals to VRDs.

Every community and county deserves the right to self-determination. Our local community needs to stop vacation rentals from ruining neighborhoods with parking problems, loud music, large number of guests, pets out of control, litter, etc.

I strongly oppose SB 621 which takes away coastal community rights. Communities need to make the best choices for their own communities. Vacation Rentals have already caused a housing emergency and are destroying family neighborhoods.

The Oregon Coast is not like other communities in Oregon. Coastal government must limit Vacation Rentals for our economic survival. We must have standard housing rentals for workers, and put a limit on the number of vacation rentals for tourists.

Let those of us who live and work here decide what is best for us.

Sincerely,

Stella Blue

Property owner on the Oregon Coast for 35 years.

NewsLincolnCounty.com will closely monitoring this unfolding story.