John Meston, Dana Point
On Sept. 6 one of the most pivotal points in Dana Point’s cultural history will be voted on by our city council. What is at risk is the proliferation of short-term rentals (2-30 days) such as VRBO/Airbnb and other transitory living arrangements in all residential neighborhoods except those with HOAs that prohibit them.
In choosing to live in neighborhood zoned as single family residential, one does not expect to live next to what for all intents and purposes is a “business” complete with a tax paying requirement.
Is the city that hard up for tax revenues that its willing to jeopardize the character of Dana Point at the expense of its permanent residents? Call me old school, but I like the idea that my children have the opportunity to grow up with the neighborhood kids in a small beach community. Having different neighbors every week or month who aren’t as invested in the community isn’t that appealing to me.
Now I could talk about all the potential annoyances that tend to come along with short term rental, parking problems, noise complains, cleanliness, but I’d rather look holistically. I ask, what is our city’s ethos? Are we trying to build/maintain a commonwealth? Or are we maybe trying to capitalize financially on what it has taken so long to build and thus turn the page on a chapter of Dana Point’s history?
To maintain their city ethos many southern California cities have already taken or are considering actions to limit or prohibit short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. These include Newport Beach, Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. One has to ask why we as stakeholders in Dana Point prefer to go in a different direction?
Please join other Dana Point citizens in protest of this ordinance at the September 6th City council meeting at 6 p.m.
To submit a Letter to the Editor, send us an email at letters@danapointtimes.com.
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