In August 2021, Tybee Island set a 90-day moratorium for issuing short-term vacation rental permits in residential areas with the intention to gather information on issues, concerns and potential next steps using public input.
Now, nearly three years later, those seeking permits for STVRs residential areas still can’t obtain them, and those with permits can’t transfer them upon sale of the home.
By a 4-1 vote with Tony Ploughe abstaining, Tybee Island City Council passed an ordinance Thursday night that would slowly remove STRs in residential areas through attrition. Areas zoned residential, R-1, R-1-B and R-2, make up around 80% of the island. It will go into effect immediately.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Mayor Brian West before the council voted. “This is an experiment of which we do not know the outcome…. we’re guessing, we’re hoping that we get the outcome that we want. So, let’s let the experiment begin.”
In February, councilmember Nick Sears introduced the ordinance, which was met with both strong opposition and support, as more than 30 property owners spoke for 1 1/2 hours during the public comment portion of the meeting.
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“I don’t think you should pass this as it stands,” said property owner and new resident Tom Powers at last night’s meeting. “I think some stringent things should be passed, because there are real livability issues. These are real people that are being really affected as a lot of these people have testified to, and that should carry weight and things should be done about it.”
A number of property owners against the ordinance lamented that they wouldn’t be able to pass their homes to their children, would lose income, or have to rethink retirement plans due to the value of their properties dipping. One resident implied that her property value had dropped $50,000 already. Those who supported the ordinance, typically year-round residents, were happy that they would have the opportunity to “get their communities back” and hopefully, improve quality of life.
“I just want to thank you for even entertaining the ordinance, and the fact that we want to have our neighbors back,” said Julia Pearce, a 30-year resident and local activist. “We aren’t against tourism, we love tourism, but we also want a community. It used to be, you had neighbors, and y’all would have meals together, and you would talk, and you weren’t living at Disney Land.”
Councilmember Michael “Spec” Hosti, the lone “no” vote, has lived on Tybee Island since 1954. He disagreed with the ordinance, saying that he feels like Tybee is more of a community now than it has ever been. At various points over the last few months, the other councilmembers have spoken in support of the ordinance as a way to “recover our residential neighborhoods,” as councilmember Bill Garbett said in February.
“The city has already determined that STRs are not compatible with residential neighborhoods,” Garbett said last night. “They are not allowed in residential neighborhoods. All this ordinance does it correct this by gradually reducing the number of such rental properties in residential neighborhoods.”
Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for Chatham County municipalities for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at dambus@gannett.com