The Jacksonport Town Board will most likely vote on an STR policy this coming Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 7 PM. Here is the agenda. See item 11, d: Short-Term Rental Letter & Good Neighbor Policy. The Town Board Packet has been published today and although most of what they are proposing is positive (see below), we are concerned that the occupancy policy proposed for STR properties of 2 people per bedroom, has no distinction between children and adults and goes beyond state laws for tourist rooming house occupancy. See pages 13-15 of the packet.
🔔Area of Concern:
While we are fully in agreement with the categories the good neighbor policy proposes, including limiting occupancy based on the wastewater treatment system, we are concerned that the addition of a restriction limiting occupancy to 2 people per bedroom will limit our ability to rent to families with children, given that would typically take you over 2/bedroom. It also restricts the use of a loft or den that has a sleeper sofa. We’ve sent this note to the board expressing these concerns. This link gives you more details about the implications of limiting occupancy to two people per bedroom.
💡Proposal:
We will propose that the town consider retaining compliance with Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS) but remove the 2/bedroom clause that is incorrectly interpreted as a Door County Sanitarian Code, and replace that with a reference to state tourist room house regulations regarding cubic feet requirements for sleeping areas, different for children vs. adults. (Wisconsin Administrative Code: Hotels, Motels, and Tourist Rooming Houses , ATCP 72.14 Building structure and safety.)
👍Good News:
The town, at this point, has decided to take the approach of sending a letter with a good neighbor policy to set parameters and expectations for STRs in Jacksonport. This is a much better option than an ordinance and licensing for STRs. This reduces costs and time for town staff and gives STR owners the opportunity to continue to demonstrate we live by the good neighbor practices making a more restrictive ordinance unnecessary.
📢Action to Take:
We are hoping that after your comments during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting regarding the limit of two people per bedroom, the town will remove this clause in the policy. This opinion needs to be expressed with respect and appreciation for this very reasonable approach the town is proposing.
We are hoping that after your comments during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting regarding the limit of two people per bedroom, that the town will remove this clause in the resolution. This opinion needs to be expressed with respect and appreciation for this very reasonable approach the town is proposing.
NOTE: Public Comment is agenda item #10, before discussion by the board regarding the STR agenda item #11.
Please join us at the next board meeting. During the public comment period, you will have a chance to express appreciation for the good neighbor policy and share concerns you have about the two-person per bedroom requirement. If you haven’t had a chance to attend a meeting yet, please consider coming to the meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
If you are not able to attend, there will be a Zoom access to the meeting. However, it’s critical that we have an in-person presence to show continued support for STR owners’ perspectives. There are other agenda items related to wake boats that will have other members of the public wishing to comment so those on Zoom may not have a chance to speak.
Meeting Location:
Town Hall/Fire Station
3365 County V
Jacksonport, Wisconsin 54235
Zoom Access:
There is Zoom access to Tuesday’s meeting.
Meeting ID: 525 662 3428
Passcode: jport
Please let us know if you plan to attend in person or via Zoom at hello@homehosts.org.
*POWTS: Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System, each home has a POWTS occupancy capacity which you’ll find in your DATCP safety inspection documents from the County.
All the best,
Your Home Hosts Board
Directors:
Janet Slater, President
Karen Jacobson Berndt, Vice President
Holli Kohls, Treasurer
Punkaj Gupta, Secretary
Michael Servais
Heather Heezen
Liz Scheckel