Stonington advances short‑term rental review and approves $35,000 economic resiliency plan

Stonington Selectmen received a committee report on short‑term rentals, set money aside for housing and approved contracting for an economic resiliency study to guide local planning.

A short‑term rental committee presented a PowerPoint and a set of recommendations to the board, summarizing national and local models and urging balanced growth. The Selectmen thanked the committee and directed staff to begin drafting ordinance language and fee/registration options, emphasizing a registration approach with nominal fees for year‑round rentals.

On municipal finances, the board agreed to create a housing reserve of $100,000 sourced from tax‑acquired property sales to support housing planning, scoping and potential projects. In a separate motion, the Selectmen approved a $35,000 contract with Camoin for an economic resiliency plan focused on downtown vitality and fisheries-sector adaptation (motion passed 5‑0 on Aug. 1).

Why it matters: Short‑term rentals, housing availability and targeted economic planning intersect with workforce availability for local businesses and public services. The planning contract is intended to provide a focused roadmap for grant applications and policy choices.

What happens next: Town staff and the short‑term rental committee will draft proposed ordinance text, fee structures and hearing schedules for public review this fall; the Camoin study will proceed under the approved contract and include stakeholder outreach and focus groups.