Hello Commissioners,
My name is Tucker Zimmerman. I am a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Mountain Properties, a homeowner in Dillon, and a primary resident. I do not own or manage any short-term rentals.
I am writing to you based on your proposals for changes concerning STR permits/licenses. I am primarily concerned with three issues; Infringement of Property Rights, Government Picking Winners and Losers, and your motives.
Regardless of if a homeowner chooses to short-term rent or not, they purchased their property knowing it was an option. That option includes the future rentability of the property. This could be at the time of resale or just because of a life change. By taking away the owners property rights, you are diminishing the value of their asset. It’s cut and dry, you are taking money out of people’s pocket. Is Robinhood the thief really a good guy?
My second concern is even worse. In the words of Timothy Carney of the American Enterprise Unit “every time the government picks a winner, it creates another loser.” Your preliminary plan designates neighborhood zones where you will either heavily restrict or outright ban STR’s. This is an outright example of the government picking winners and losers. For example, let’s consider two properties that sold for similar prices in Keystone and Dillon Valley. Both Buyers bought their properties under the same county rules, knowing short-term rentals were an option. Now, you are going to heavily restrict STR’s in Dillon Valley but not Keystone. Therefore, you will kill any appreciation for the Dillon Valley property but the Keystone property will continue to appreciate. What gives you that right?
The noble goal of increasing affordable housing is at the center of all of this so my third point may come across as an accusation, but I don’t intend it that way. Instead, I think you’ve been played by two major corporations. Many of the properties maintaining their property rights under your proposed plan and under the recent Town of Breckenridge Plan are heavily staked by Vail Resorts or Powdr Corp. Both companies stand to benefit by having a semi monopoly on short-term rentals. Vail & Powdr both hold significant management stakes in the real estate you have deemed exempt. In fact, I don’t think a STR restriction has been placed on any real estate that would affect either company. However, they also stand to benefit from increased availability of workforce housing. Keep in mind that much of the labor for these companies is not the true local we’re trying to support. Both Vail and Powdr hire many J-1 and H-2B visa applicant, they even host job fairs in other countries. I’m all for a free market workforce, but I don’t think Summit County Government should harm our homeowners to supply cheap housing for Billion dollar corporations. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, Vail & Powdr corp employees should not be eligible for any deed restricted housing or the new Lease to Locals program. Those companies can build their own employee housing, I will be happy to help them find some land. If you prioritize Vail & Powdr’s bottom line, that’s where it becomes Crony Capitalism.
Thank you for considering these points. I urge you not to restrict any aspect of property rights but if you feel you must, please do not play favorites.