HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-06 resolutionmoratoriumstvr.pdfRESOLUTION NO. _06-2021
MORATORIUM RESOLUTION LIMITING THE ISSUANCE OF OCCUPATIONAL
TAX CERTIFICATES OR ISSUANCE OF PERMITS FOR SHORT TERM VACATION
RENTALS; SUBJECT TO EXCEPTIONS,
FOR A PERIOD OF NINETY DAYS
WHEREAS, the City of Tybee Island (the City) is a municipality duly organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the municipal government of the City is the Mayor and Council thereof; and
WHEREAS. the Mayor and Council have previously adopted ordinances to address issues
concerning short term vacation rentals; and
WHEREAS, in recent years the City has had a substantial increase of short term vacation
rental operations such that those establishments are over or near 40% of housing units existing on
Tybee Island imposing burdens on infrastructure including, but not limited to, water withdrawals;
and
WHEREAS, the operation of short term vacation rentals is the subject of ongoing studies
and analysis implicating zoning, regulatory and enforcement issues such that the Mayor and
Council find that a moratorium is necessary in order for the City, through its staff and elected
officials, to investigate and explore the impact of such operations and opportunities to improve the
quality of life and to enhance public safety for all residents and visitors to the City of Tybee Island;
and
WHEREAS, the City has previously adopted numerous ordinances and resolutions
regarding identification procedures for short term vacation rentals, signage on properties for
short term vacation rentals, monitoring and regulating noise, water/sewer usage and enhancing
enforcement personnel activity. All these activities are intended to lessen the impact of the
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vacation -oriented behavior of visitors when occupying rentals on the island in an effort to maintain
a reasonable quality of life and safety of permanent residents and visitors. In addition, as the City
has purchased software to better monitor and police short term vacation rentals and supported the
formation of citizen work groups to analyze and discuss short term vacation rentals and their
impact; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council find that the imposition of a moratorium for ninety
days on the issuance of any further permits for short term vacation rental locations subject to the
exceptions below is appropriate in order for the City to investigate issues including water
withdrawal impacts, zoning improvements, infrastructure demands, parking, public safety and to
explore further methods of controlling or regulating occupancy to a reasonable degree for such
short-term rental operations; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, in open meeting, by the Mayor and Council
that for a period of ninety days from the effective date hereof, the City shall not issue any further
permits, except as allowed herein, for the operation of or the identification of short term vacation
rental properties or units as defined by the ordinance of the City or the laws of the State of Georgia
while the City undertakes the investigation, data gathering and studies described above and as
discussed in open meetings, including, but not limited to meetings of the Mayor and Council of
August 26, 2021.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that notwithstanding the above, new permits may be
issued for any location that had previously been permitted that was transferred by bona fide sale
prior to the date hereof or any such locations transferred during the period covered by this
moratorium, including any extensions; and
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City will undertake its investigation in an expedited
manner but that if the investigation requires additional time for completion beyond the ninety day
period Mayor and Council may extend the restrictions on issuance of permits for the operation of
short term vacation rental properties for additional periods upon adoption of an appropriate
extension resolution.
BE IT SO RESOLVED.
This Ce day of , 2021.
CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA
est:
,L
C' y Clerk
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By:Shirley Sessions
SHIRLEY SESSIONS, Mayor
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2021\08,18.21 - Moratorium - STVR.docx