Buncombe 'pumps brakes' on Airbnb regulations, tabling vote after strong community input

ASHEVILLE - The Planning Board unanimously agreed to defer a vote and table proposed amendments regulating STRs — commonly referred to as Airbnbs — during its April 22 meeting and public hearing.

The meeting was the latest in a series of public hearings on the text amendments regarding county Airbnb regulations.

Each meeting has been filled with community members expressing support for the regulations that many believe will protect vulnerable communities from displacement.

At the same time, some Airbnb owners have discussed possible litigation against the county and a STR advocacy group after it launched the "NoBan4Buncombe" campaign against the regulations in March.

Some members of the board said discussion surrounding the regulations has been rooted in "misinformation and misunderstanding," causing its members to postpone a vote to further consider public input.

Under current proposed regulations, all existing STRs will be grandfathered in if they apply for proper zoning permits, said Long Range Planning Division Manager Gillian Phillips during the meeting. Other regulations include limits on Airbnb square footage, limiting zoning for Airbnbs and forbidding manufactured housing from being Airbnbs.

Planning Board Chair Nancy Waldrop noted there was a lot of "community unease" on the proposal that she said was partially based on "misinformation." Waldrop advocated for slowing down the process to have more conversations with community stakeholders.

"Based on what we've heard from the community, via these hearings and emails, I firmly believe that the best path forward is to broaden the scope of our discussions," Waldrop said.

Waldrop also mentioned the two new members of the board — Jay Marino and Karl Koon — might not be as up to date on the Planning Board amendments and conversation about Airbnb regulations.

Marino and Koon were recently appointed to the board, Buncombe County spokesperson Kassi Day said.

Both Marino and Koon said they did not yet know enough to make a decision on the regulations.

"I feel like it would be more fair to myself, and you all, to pump the breaks a little bit," Marino said.

Ken Kahn, vice chair of the Planning Board, was not present at the meeting, but sent in a statement for Waldrop to read.

Kahn said he felt "the large amount of feedback the planning board has received against regulating short term rentals in the county does not proportionally represent the opinion of the general population."

The motion to defer action on the amendments will initially last for 100 days but could be extended, County Attorney Curt Euler said.

Before the vote, Planning Director Nathan Pennington said he would take the message and "report out to county management and the County Commissioners."

"Let us bring you a menu of options," Pennington said to the board, noting that staff would bring new text amendments in future recommendations.

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected]. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Buncombe County 'pumps brakes' on Airbnb regulations, tables vote