Stonington committee urges short‑term rental registration and planning measures as housing pressure grows

A committee convened to study short‑term rentals presented its findings and recommendations to Stonington’s Selectmen, urging the board to pursue a balanced approach — registration plus a modest fee structure — to reduce pressure on the local rental market.

Committee members presented a PowerPoint summarizing options other towns have used and aimed for balanced growth that protects first‑floor retail while addressing year‑round rental availability. Linda Nelson, who has helped lead local economic development work, described distinctions between owner‑occupied rentals and commercial short‑term units and urged the board to proceed with a registration system and nominal fees.

Selectmen expressed concern about penalizing year‑round landlords who provide needed long‑term housing, and directed staff and the committee to draft proposed ordinance language and prepare for public hearings in the fall. The board also discussed housing reserve ideas raised elsewhere on the agenda and previously agreed informally to set aside $100,000 from available funds for housing planning and related initiatives.

Next steps: The committee will work with TM Billings and the Planning Board to draft proposed registration rules and fee schedules and present them at a public hearing; the board will also continue work on the broader economic resiliency plan (Camoin) that was approved for consultant work at $35,000.