Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - Minutes - 07/13/2022

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
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PUBLIC WORKS, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE RTM on
Special Meeting "
Waterford Town Hall — Louise Appleby Room a
July 13, 2022
Public Works, Planning & Development Standing Committee Chair Michael Rocchetti called the July 13,
2022 Special Meeting to order at 7:01 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Ryan Healy, Michael Rocchetti, Greg Attanasio, Ted Olynciw.
ABSENT: Mike Bono
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: RTM Member Susan Driscoll, RTM Moderator Paul Goldstein
ALSO PRESENT: Town Clerk David L. Campo; Town Attorney Nicholas Kepple, Planning Director Abby
Piersall.
ITEM 5 —June 15, 2022 Meeting Minutes.
MOTION by Olynciw, seconded by Healy, to approve the June 15, 2022 Meeting minutes.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ann-Marie Andriola - Waterford Resident, 33 Niantic River Rd; formerly of 9 Waterview Dr. spoke in
regard to her experience with the current owners of 9 Waterview Dr.
Nadine Pica — Waterford Resident, 5 Overlook Dr., spoke in regard to residential locations being used
essentially as commercial property.
Juanita Durham — Waterford resident, 3 Overlook Dr., spoke in regard to residential properties acting as
hotels and requested the town help to resolve the situation.
ITEM 6 — Short Term Rentals, RTC 12/06/21
Discussion ensued around community engagement between the committee, the public, Town Attorney
Nicholas Kepple and Planning Director Abby Piersall. Director of Planning Abby Piersall submitted a draft
survey (See Attachment) that would be distributed to members of the community who are opposed, for
indifferent and operate short term rentals. It was discussed that the survey would be used first to get to
the heart of the issue and then plan how to engage the community in person. The survey would be
distributed by email, website, social media, school handouts, word of mouth and press release.
Estimated survey launch is end of July, beginning of August. It was noted by resident John Morgan that
the town should use tax and sewer bills in the future to engage the public on issues of interest in town.
,

MOTION by Attanasio, seconded by Healy, to authorize Planning Director Abby Piersall to release the
survey with agreed upon changes.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
The committee agreed that September 21, 2022 would work for the first community engagement.
MOTION by Olynciw, seconded by Attanasio, to adjourn at 8:17 P.M.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
Respectfully Submitted,
Mike Rocchetti
Chair

David Campo
r ; Abby Piersalf
soF Wednesday, July 13, 2022 2:26 PM
To: MICHAEL ROCCHETTI; Nicholas Keppie; David Campo
Subject: _ Draft Short Term Rental Survey
Attachments: DRAFT Short Term Rental Survey.docx
Hello,
This Is for your consideration/discussion purposes at tonight’s meeting. Possible next steps for public engagement on
this issue include:
* Consider whether the Committee supports doing a survey. If there is support:
= Refine the questions
* Review the timeline for launching the survey, closing it, and sharing results
«Discuss an outreach strategy to get as many people as possible (and with a range of ideas) to .
respond
* Consider whether Committee supports hosting a community forum on the topic
" Discuss timing of the forum. | recommend using the forum to share survey results. Results can
' be used to guide the structure and goals for the forum.
® Possible timing of next steps:
© July-August: Survey
© Early September: End survey and review results, refine topics and structure of community forum
© Mid/End of September- Host forum and compile community feedback
9 October: Make recommendation to the RTM about whether to proceed with drafting an ordinance.
if after receiving balanced community feedback the Committee decides to pursue and ordinance, | would recommend
the December/February timeframe for review and adoption sa that it could potentially be in place by April of 2023.
'm happy to discuss!
Abby Y. Piersall, AICP
Planning Director
Town of Waterford
15 Rope Ferry Road
Waterford, CT 06385
(860) 444-5813

», July 13, 2022
' Public Works, Planning & Development Standing Committee
DRAFT Short Term Rental Survey
INTRODUCTION
Waterford is a fantastic travel destination. More and more, visitors are looking to short term rentals like
Airbnb or VBRO when they come to stay. As demand for Jodging increases, so do the number of short
term rental properties in Town. For some, this trend is a benefit. For others, it is a cause for concern.
This survey is intended give people on all sides of the issue a chance to participate in the conversation
about how Waterford should think about short term rentals.
The Waterford Representative Town Meeting (RTM) referred the question of whether to regulate short
term rentals to its Public Works, Planning & Development Standing Committee. Our Town doesnot
currently have a regulation that governs these rentals. The Committee is considering the matter, and is
asking the Waterford community for feedback.
This survey is a first step. The Committee also plans to host a community forum to discuss the survey
results and talk more about whether there is a need for regulations. After hearing from the community,
the Committee will make a recommendation to the full RTM about how Waterford should proceed.
SURVEY
1. Which of the following best describes you? (Choose all that apply)
a. Permanent Waterford Resident
b. Seasonal Waterford Resident (1-6 months of the year) .
c. Visitor (stay in Waterford less than 30 days in a year)
d. Owner
e. Renter
f. Commercial Property Owner
2. Do you advertise your home for short-term rentals?
a. No, and [ don’t plan to
b. Not yet, but I plan to in the future
c. Yes, | have or am currently advertising it
d. Ido not own residential property in Waterford.
3. If you answered yes, what type of property have you advertised as a short-term rental?
a. Single Family Home
b. In-taw apartment
c. Detached apartment (garage apartment, carriage house, etc.)
d. Room(s) {i.e., not the whole dwelling)
4. If you answered yes to question 2, please describe why you chose to rent your property ona
short-term basis.
5. If you answered yes to question 2, what platforms do you use to advertise?
a. Airbnb
b. VBRO

10.
11.
Home Away
Facebook
Other (please describe)
f. [do not advertise
Have you ever been disrupted by short term rentals (noise, parking, traffic, security, etc.?)
a. Yes
b. No
pan
Please explain.
How would (or do} you feel about having a short term rental property or properties in your
neighborhood?
a. | donot have any concerns.
b. 1am somewhat uncomfortable.
c. lam very uncomfortable.
Please explain.
Do you believe there are benefits to Waterford having short term rentals?
a. Yes
b. No
_¢, Unsure
Please explain.
Do you believe that Waterford should consider regulating short term rentals?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Unsure
What timeframe do you consider to be “short-term?” (check all that apply)
a. 1night
b. 2 nights
c. Less than 1 week
d. 1-2 weeks
e. Less than 30 days
If Waterford were to consider regulating short-term rentals, which requirements are the most
important for the Town consider? (Consider a matrix for responses: Very Important, Somewhat :
important, Not important}
Maximum days in the year when the property can be rented.
Minimum length of stay for renters.
Yearly licensing for short-term rentais
inspections for basic fire and building safety
Maximum number of renters allowed at one time
Requirements for off-street parking
Requirements for trash pickup
Penalties for violations
FRmrAp Aan Ts

i. Application fee
j. Owner or property manager living on site when while a property is rented
k. Ability for the Town to contact owner or property manager 24/7 when the property is
rented in case any issues arise
|. Limits on where in Town short term rentals can be allowed (Areas within Town,
Distances between licensed short term rentals)
12. Is there anything more you would like to share with us about this topic?

Ordinance #
ORDINANCE
REGULATING SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN THE
TOWN OF GROTON
Be it ordained by the Town Council of the Town of Groton:
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
This Ordinance shall be known as the “Short-Term Rental Ordinance.”
It is the intent of this Ordinance to accommodate the desire of some property owners to
rent their residential dwelling on a short-term basis but to establish appropriate
requirements to mitigate the disruption that short-term owner-occupied and vacation
rental dwellings may have on neighboring properties and a neighborhood.
It is found that all types of Short-Term Rentals may be rented under appropriate
measures so as to make them of low intensity and not generate a nuisance to any
neighbor or cause any detrimental impact to the surrounding residential neighborhood.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.
For the purpose of this Ordinance, the following words and phrases shall have the
meaning respectively ascribed to them: :
Dwelling Unit: Any single unit providing complete independent living facilities for one or
more persons, with permanent provisions for living, cooking, sleeping, bathing and
sanitary facilities.
Off-Street Parking Area: An area located entirely within the real property upon which the
STR is situated. The area may be within or outside of a building or structure, and shall
be designed and used for the parking of motor vehicles. The area may include all-
weather surfaced off-street parking spaces, garages, or private driveways.
Property Owner (“Owner”): Each and every record titie owner of the subject property
and improvements thereon.
Short Term Rental (“STR”): The use of a dwelling unit, in whole or in part, for transient
lodging for compensation by Renters, for no more than thirty (30) days.
Short-Term Rental Guests (“Renters”): Persons who rent an STR.
Town: The Town of Groton.
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SECTION 3, REGISTRATION.
A. The Owner of STR must register annually with the Town on a form or platform
Specified by the Town. A registration is required for each STR.
B. STR registration must include the following information about the STR:
1. Name of the Property Owner(s). If the Owner is a business entity, the name of
the statutory agent.
2. Address of the STR.
3. Phone number and email address of the Ownér or Owner’s agent who has the
authority and responsibility to respond to complaints in person, over the phone,
or by email at any time of the day.
4. Sworn statement from the Owner that the STR will contain at all times
operating smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
5. A plot plan depicting the Off-Street Parking Area to be used by Renters, or if
no Off-Street Parking is available, the owner shall identify areas where parking
may be available.
C. The Town will provide a STR registration number for each STR registered by an
-Owner.
D. If there is a change in the information required in subsection B of this section, the
Owner must complete a new STR registration within ten days.
E. The Owner of the STR must display the phone number and email address of the
' Owner or Owner's agent who has authority and responsibility to respond to complaint in
person, over the phone, by email, or text at any time of the day. The information
required under this subsection must be displayed in a conspicuous place within ten feet
of the primary entrance inside of the STR.
F. The Owner must pay the annual registration fee in full at the time of application. If an
application is denied the fee shall not be reimbursable. The fee shall be established by
resolution of the Town Council from time-to-time.
SECTION 4. STANDARDS.
A. The following information shall be made available at the STR by the Owner and
provided to the Renter in writing:
1. Information on maximum occupancy, which shall not be more than two (2)
persons per bedroom, excluding children under the age of 12.
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2. Applicable noise and use restrictions.
3. Location(s) of off-street parking.
4. Location of trash receptacles and not be stored within public view, except
within proper containers for the purpose of collection, and information concerning
the Town’s trash collection schedule.
5. Contact information for the Owner or agent.
6. Emergency information, including but not limited to, Groton Police Department
address & directions from the property and phone numbers (emergency and non-
emergency); Directions to nearest medical facilities such as hospitals & urgent
care centers; Evacuation routes.
7. A statement that the Renter shall not trespass on private property or to create
disturbances.
8. The Town short-term registration number.
B. Renting, or offering for rent, a STR without complying with the registration
requirement in Section 3 is prohibited.
C. When requested by a police officer or town official, the Owner or Owner's agent
whose name appears on the STR registration must be on the STR premises, or be
available over the phone or text, within 120 minutes after receiving a request. Failure of
the Owner or Owner's agent fo be on the STR premises, or be available on the phone
or text, within 120 minutes after receiving the request by the police officer or town
Official is a violation of this Ordinance.
D. For purposes of this section, the online lodging marketplace is not responsible for
any violation committed by an online lodging operator that advertises on the online
lodging marketplace’s platform.
SECTION 5: PENALTIES
A. The remedies herein are cumulative and the Town may proceed under one or more
such remedies.
B. Any Owner, agent, or Renter who causes, permits, facilitates, aids, or abets any
violation of any provision of this Ordinance or who fails to perform any act or duty
required by this Ordinance is subject to a civil sanction as follows;
1. First offense on the property, written warning sent by certified mail, personal
service, or first class mail.
2. Second offense within 12-month period, $100.00 per offense.
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3. Third offense within 12-month period, $250.00 per offense.
4. Fourth and subsequent offence within 12-month period, $500.00 per offense.
C. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, the STR Owner, agent, or Renter
who causes, permits, facilitates, aids, or abets the use of the STR in violation of any
provision of this Ordinance shall have committed a public nuisance.
D. Notwithstanding any provision in this Ordinance, a STR Owner is not liable for any
violation of this Ordinance if the Owner: (1) identified on the STR registry an online
lodging operator who will be responsible for complying with all applicable requirements
of the Town code; and (2) submitted to the Town a signed agreement with an online
lodging operator who will be responsible for complying with all applicable requirements
of this Ordinance. The online lodging operator who signs the agreement will be liable for
any violation relating to any violation of this Ordinance.
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