The limit on vacation rental licenses was never intended as an “all or nothing decision.” This was, and is, a work in progress. The challenge will be to review the pros and cons and find balance.
We are experiencing the financial problems that come into play when Yachats closes to tourism. No matter how many vacation rentals are available, in a disaster such as we have now, they remain empty.
The Yachats economy currently depends on tourism dollars but that does not need to be the case forever. Just as in Nature and in retirement portfolios “diversity” is king.
What could help cushion the city in times like these would be a citizenry with adequate employment to keep the local economy moving along, allowing the residents to frequent local restaurants and shops.
Remember, it isn’t only tourists paying the food and beverage tax. City services such as water, sewer and roads are paid through lodging taxes, systems development charges, utility fees as well as property taxes.
The fees that we, the citizens and businesses of this community pay, barely cover those costs. Sharing those costs is one thing, but passively relying on visitors to cover our expenses in such a large part seems to be a recipe for disaster. Strengthening our local economy through diversification will be the best answer to weathering future economic downturns. Having an empowered and diversified community would add resilience during sudden upheavals.
Too many beautiful resort towns are no longer affordable for locals and workers. People need to be emotionally, as well as financially, invested in their communities and opening Yachats as one large investment opportunity diminishes community connectivity.
I believe the current limit on vacation rentals is an important aspect of maintaining the qualities we all appreciate in Yachats.
— Jacqueline Danos, Yachats
