Bend City Council approved a Vacation Home Rental Task Force substantially as recommended by the Planning Commission, adding the proposed alternate (Hillside Inn B&B owner Anne Goldner) as a full voting member. The members of the 24-person task force—which meets for the first time Thursday at 4 pm at the North Fire Training Station on Jamison […]
vacation rentals
Posted inNews
Tell the City How You Really Feel About Vacation Rentals
Want to weigh in on the vacation rental debate without joining a committee or showing up to a City Council meeting? You’re in luck. The City of Bend has set up a forum on Bend Voice soliciting input to take back to the Vacation Home Rental Task Force, a committee comprised of stakeholders on all […]
Posted inNews
City Seeks Applicants for Vacation Rental Task Force
As concerns about vacation rentals—and the number of applications—continue to rise, the City of Bend is taking steps toward finding a solution by forming a Vacation Rental Task Force, comprised of residents on all sides of the issues as well as representatives from other stakeholder groups. The task force will “help shape decisions about vacation […]
Posted inOpinion
Fools Rush In
Probably the most heated debate in Bend right now is how to manage short-term vacation rentals, like Airbnb. Should the city do more than rubberstamp permits to rent out homes? Should the city reign in the number allowed? Should there be increased fees and oversight? And, more broadly, what does all this mean about the […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters 10/2-10/9
IN REPLY TO “MOVIN’ ON UP” (10/1) “Millenials don’t tend to drive single occupancy vehicles,” OSU attorney Janik argued. “They tend to use other modes.” I wonder if Mr Janik has ever stood at the roundabout at College Way and Newport Avenue when classes get out to see how many cars have more than one […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters 9/24-9/30
VACATION RENTALS IN BEND The comments from the Bend home purchaser who could ONLY make the purchase by becoming a part-time rental (vacation) landlord…how about deferred gratification? Wait until you can live here fulltime and then become a real community member—99 percent can barely afford one home, why should the quality of our neighborhoods be […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters 9/16-9/23
FREE ENTRY FOR POLITICS Regarding two items in your magazine(?).One is the “boot” article “Show Me the Money” (9/17). You take a focus on [Jodie] Barram as being one of the most active on the [City] Council. Who are you to take away from the other most active? There are six more, you know. Then you […]
Posted inNews
City Council Takes on Vacation Rentals and OSU Appeal, Hears Accessibility Concerns
Vacation rentals dominated last night’s Bend City Council meeting, with comments from community members and discussion from city councilors spanning hours over the course of the work session and meeting. During the work session, City staff presented three options to address growing concerns over the number of vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods, particularly in Bend’s […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters 8/13-8/19
IN REPLY TO “BEST HEALTH CLUB GYM: JUNIPER SWIM AND FITNESS CENTER” (8/13) What were you thinking, or were you? In the recent “Best of” publication, you referred to lifeguarding as “a job that is about as challenging as a Jimmy Buffet song.” That statement is demeaning, ignorant, and quite truthfully, stupid. You also called […]
Posted inNews
Hotel, Motel, Neighborhood Inn?
Westside residents push back against vacation rentals
“That’s a vacation rental,” Stephen Junkins says, pointing to a modest but well-maintained mill house as he rides his bike slowly through the River West neighborhood where he lives. “And that’s a vacation rental,” he adds, gesturing toward another house across the street. He also points out owner-occupied homes, and those with long-term renters, and […]
