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Meeting: Mayor and Board of Aldermen Public Meeting

Meeting Time: June 04, 2020 at 6:55pm EDT

Where: 101 North Court Frederick, Md 21701

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Agenda Item

IX. CITIZEN COMMENTS This is an opportunity for citizens to address the Mayor and Aldermen regarding items that may or may not appear on the Agenda. Please note speakers should first give their name and address. You are reminded that these proceedings are broadcast on live TV and you should speak clearly. All comments are limited to a total of five minutes per individual. Comments can be provided through the e-comments feature on the City website prior to the meeting, or by calling 301-600-1213 during the meeting.

1 Public Comment
  • Default_avatar
    Phillip LeBlanc over 4 years ago

    Phil LeBlanc - 4 Clarke Place - Hollerstown Hill - Wonderful B&B at www.HollerstownHill.com.
    M&B, Thanks for continuing to hear me and my concerns for the City as it relates to Law and Order in the City. The City expectations that citizen should following the law seem hypocritical when the City does not. That is at least in the case for Code Enforcement related to Tourist Homes. Not following the law seems to be OK with City if it helps the Tourism industry. Please note; the City has still not shown there is any exception to Tourist Home zoning..Nothing in Code but the Definitions that clearly establish the requirement for Conditional Use of properties lodging for Transient Guests

    Tourist Home are still defined to be dwelling that provide or offer lodging to transient guests. No Exceptions. The City is by default granting 190+ unwarranted exception for Airbnb operators in the City.

    The City Zoning and Planning – Still not making any real effort to manage Zoning uses of this types. This is being done as a MANAGEMENT directive and is not based on the Law.
    • No new requests for Conditional use by the 190+ Listed properties. Currently only 6 STR (5 B&B and I Tourist Home) properties of 200+ listed in Frederick’s 4 zip codes are legal.
    • No new illegal operation activities searches performed and reported by Zoning or Code Enforcement.
    • No indication in Code of exceptions for Entire House exemption form Conditional Use requirement has been provide via 100+ PIA requests. Tourist Home are still properties that provide or offer lodging to Transient Guests with no disagreements.
    • City continues to refuse to use available inexpensive digital data systems to support Code Enforcement tracking of Tourist Home Code violates.
    • No progress has been made in developing LMC code revisions related to STRs.

    from AirDNA – No Change in last few weeks but trends of Active Use are down while Airbnb listings are up.
    • The number of ACTIVE Short Term Rentals(STR) has decreased from 164 a few months ago to 145, ~14% drop in a few months
    • The decrease is more in properties with private room rentals verses whole house rentals.
    • The average room rates are decreasing as of Apr with a 15% decrease form avg annual (Avg of $126 to Apr $106)
    • The average Room Occupancy rates have also decreased. 23% decrease from avg.
    • Therefore the business Revenue has decreased from a 12 month average of $1988 to $1, 355 for Mar and a high of $2,477. ~32% Decrease from Avg..