Welcome to the Future!
What is happening? There is a kerfuffle involving affordable housing in Vail, Colorado. Sounds like a punch line for a joke, and yet it is not.
Why is this important? Vail Resorts owns land upon which it wants to build affordable housing for its work force. Vail City Council condemned the land to protect the big horn sheep. Cannot make this up.
How will this be important? Vail Resorts say the City Council oks ” high-end construction while trying to shut out affordable housing. “
What is happening? The City of Houston is changing nuisance law enforcement for bars, restaurants and night clubs by increasing violations from $1000 to $2000.
Why is this important? I located within 300 feet of a residence, the business will have to acquire a new commercial establishment permit for playing amplified sound, which can be heard outdoors after proposed hours: 10 pm Monday through Thursday, and 11 pm Fridays and Saturdays.
How will this be important? Changes have also been made to the administrative hearings and will include sound impact plan to mitigate loud noise
Culture Map Houston | City of Houston takes step to quiet noisiest neighborhood bars and clubs
What is happening? Land Trust of Virginia has seen double the number of conservation easements this year. 40 million acres nationwide are protected by conservation easement, of which about 20 million acres are under the care of land trusts.
Why is this important? Increased federal support for conserving land from development in the “30×30” campaign which seeks to conserve 30% of land and water by 2030. This campaign relies heavily on private conservation actions by private land owners.
How will this be important? The interplay between changes in urban zoning from single residence focus to multifamily AND more open land being protected from development by conservation easements.
Route Fifty | Private Lands Are the Next Battleground in State Conservation Policy
What is happening? U.S. vacation rental revenue is estimated to be $17.7B in 2023. The number of listings are also increasing to 1.3 million listings this year, up 20% from 2019.
Why is this important? The driver of this economic growth is owners with multiple units. It is estimated that short term rentals yield 30% more profit than long term leases.
How will this be important? There remains gaps in taxation collection, voluntary tax agreements are difficult to audit, and noise and trash issues are driven by local issues.
Route Fifty | 5 Things Local Governments Need to Know About Short-term Vacation Rentals
What is happening? Honolulu has a current ordinance that requires minimum stays of 30 days for AirBnB, a proposal would increase that minimum stay to 90 days
Why is this important? it is part of the ongoing struggle between the tourism industry and residents that support short term rentals.
How will this be important? The short term rental industry is pushing exceptions for disasters for health care workers and other aid workers. Others want exceptions for professional surfers and those supporting the professional surfing industry.
Honolulu’s new law would require a 90-day minimum for short-term rental stays
What is happening? There’s. Rom-Com about this type of business called the Holiday. Haven’t seen it, but all you need to know is that you swap homes for your holiday pr vacation depending on your preferred word choice. Meet Kindred. The App that brings your Holiday RomCom to life.
Why is this important? The target customer is someone who wants a long stay, Kindred is more affordable than an airbnb for 30+ days.
How will this be important? Hello, remote working, when you can work anywhere, why not test out living other places?
What is happening? Massachusetts Legislature is “cracking down” on dog leasing. This makes me want to scream “what is happening?!”
Why is this important? The MA Attorney General Office tells us that “dog leases that require monthly payments for users to keep the pet and often includes high finance charges”
How will this be important? Animal lovers are scrambling to figure out if dogs are being leased in their states.
What is happening? Special Districts are on the chopping block. A skeptical eye has always existed for special districts. Special Districts with really good tax breaks even more so, because that’s less state revenue. The leading narrative is because Disney spoke out against the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. Free Speech does apply to corporations, especially considering Citizens United.
Why is this important? Florida Legislature is voting to remove the Reedy Creek Improvement District that allowed Disney to operate nearly freely of the state.
How will this be important? First Disney, next up any other business with a sweet tax deal situated in a very conservative state that likens these to corporate subsidies.
NYTimes | Disney to Lose Special Tax Status in Florida Amid ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Clash
What is happening? An Illinois county will use $40,000 of its American Rescue Plan funds to purchase doorbell cameras for the community.
Why is this important? Crime fighting 101. Law enforcement could access videos and residents can share real-time information about suspicious activity with police officers.
How will this be important? Ring has partnerships with 1,800 police departments and signed agreements with at least 350 fire departments.
Route Fifty | Police Look To Doorbell Cameras To Reduce Crime
What is happening? The lawyers who work for Volokh- “laws forcing private property owners to allow guns on their premises violate property rights and often qualify as takings requiring compensation under the Fifth Amendment”
Why is this important? The idea is that private property rights outweigh a person’s right to carry onto the private property of someone else.
How will this be important? They keep going and use the 2021 US Supreme Court case that found a taking occurred when union organizers were allowed by law to be on private property for certain number of hours per week. The US Supreme Court found that “a physical appropriation is a taking whether it is permanent or temporary.”
Reason | Article on “Gun Rights, Property Rights, and Takings”