ADDRESSING THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN OUR COMMUNITY
Join us in building a sustainable STR industry in Raymond.
Progress Update for 2024
Thank you, citizens of Raymond, for helping us meet our petition goals!
On November 5th, the citizens of Raymond helped us take an important step forward by signing our petition. We believe we have enough signatures to move the Ordinance before the people at Town Meeting. Thank you all!
View a .pdf version of our Draft Ordinance here.
View a .pdf version of the Good Neighbor Guidelines here.
Since the presidential election night, we've been receiving lots of input from citizens and STR owners. We have been compiling all of this information and have been discussing how to proceed. In the coming weeks, we will be finalizing our signature collection and hope to submit our petition. We also intend to reach out to the Select Board to chart the best path forward. Meanwhile, there's some new reading below about regulations coming to the unorganized territories.
New Links to Recent reports and Gov. findings-
Here's a guide to effectively regulating STRs which we just found online. Thankfully, our group accomplished all of their suggestions on our own. But it's a great primer for anyone thinking about these issues.
The Land Use Planning Commission for the unorganized territories announces it has developed new requirements and is working on regulations for STRs.
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry concerned about subsurface wastewater disposal with respect to short-term rentals.
Short-Term Rentals in the Commission's Service Area : LUPC : Maine DACF
Microsoft Word - 09052024CommissionMemo_STRs.docx (maine.gov)
Municipalities may regulate STRs according to state law:
title30-Asec4364-C.pdf (maine.gov)
There is no question that the state is heading toward regulation at the municipal level. Home Rule and Zoning allow local ordinances to regulate the growing STR industry. Our proposed ordinance deals directly with wastewater disposal overuse issues by tying occupancy rates to septic design, which will help protect the town's environmental resources.
According to the last three census reports, the number of housing units added to stock in Raymond has been growing at a rate almost double that of the number of families moving to town. Combined with conversion of camps and homes to STR use, you can see why we're concerned about the overall impact this trend will have on the community. If it continues the town will become more congested, but fewer people will be "from Raymond" anymore. Neighbors will be displaced by rental businesses. And the overall political and social fabric of the town will change.
We are thankful for your support. And we are accepting support through Venmo to help cover legal expenses.
Support us through Venmo:
Name: RaymondSTRInitiative
Handle: @Raymond-STRInitiative
You may Venmo us using this QR code.
Maine, The Way Life Should Be.
