TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) – For years Tybee Island has been locked in a debate over short-term vacation rentals known as STVR’s. Thursday night that debate came to an end after nearly 3 years.
City council voted 4-1 to rezone more than half of the island with the goal of slowly removing short term vacation rentals.
Ultimately Tybee City Council chose to pass the ordinance that would slowly remove Short term Vacation rentals.
This ordinance prohibits owners in residential zones from transferring their short-term licenses.
It also prohibits a new license from being issued once a property is sold reducing the number of rentals in residential areas over time.
But this ordinance didn’t come without nearly 2 hours of public comment.
Some supporting the change and opposed by others.
Those in support thanking the city council for what they say is restoring their neighborhoods.
While those against it calling this a rushed and not thought out ordinance, saying that this could be detrimental to the island’s economy.
According to an economic study conducted by Georgia Southern in 2022, Tybee Island collected 1.3 million dollars in sales tax, 1.8 million in property tax and 8.5 million in lodging tax.
All money that some fear would slowly dwindle as short-term vacation rentals slowly die out on the islands.
Copyright 2024 WTOC. All rights reserved.