Stonington Selectmen to pursue short‑term rental registry and fees amid housing concerns

The Selectmen received a committee report recommending steps to manage short‑term rentals, including creation of a registry, nominal fees, and potential ordinance language to be vetted at public hearings.

Committee members presented a PowerPoint summarizing comparative approaches used by other communities and outlined tradeoffs between preserving first‑floor retail and allowing owner‑occupied rentals. Selectmen emphasized avoiding policies that would penalize year‑round rentals that serve local housing needs and asked the committee and town staff to draft proposed registration language and fee levels for a future hearing.

The board also discussed related housing initiatives, including a proposed tax‑acquired property housing reserve and community outreach tied to an economic resiliency planning contract approved separately. No ordinance or fee was adopted during the meetings summarized; the Selectmen directed staff to develop draft language and to schedule public hearings in the fall.