Daily Real Estate News  |  September 16, 2002  |   Vacation Migration Boom Sparking Conflict Vacation spots typically occupied by a small number of locals in the off-season are attracting residential migration in record numbers, and developing year-round community conflicts, the American Planning Association says. These locations typically offer coastal, mountain, and lakeside recreation areas, natural beauty, fresh air, and entertainment options. But those who used to come and visit are now coming to stay permanently. As APA researcher Nate Hutcheson reports in Zoning News, a publication of APA, communities that offer such luxuries are now prime candidates for land use conflicts. "Americans are on the move to resort destinations," says Hutcheson. "The populations of traditional get-away destinations are surging, and planners are coming face-to-face with new social, economic, and public health challenges because of this." Residential migration to vacation destinations is estimated at 700,000 to 1.6 million people per year. In 2001, APA's Planning Advisory Service recorded an increase in the number of inquiries about planning for and regulating short-term rental properties in residential districts - particularly single-family districts. In response to this, APA conducted a survey of the residential dynamics and planning efforts for almost 40 tourist-oriented communities, the results of which are published in Zoning News. The task for planners seems to be finding and maintaining a balance between year-round, seasonal, and vacationing people while considering the effects on property, the well-being of the community, and a thriving economy. An insidious problem with short-term rentals is their impact on housing costs. Short-term rentals "squeeze" the supply of housing, increasing demand and housing costs. Businesses that rely on lower-paying service and tourist jobs find that high housing costs have pushed many workers out of the community. In Florida's Key West, workers are bused in from the mainland to work just three or four days. These workers sleep in bunk houses while in town. Also, according to APA's survey, residential and commercial property owners feel that more of a distinction needs to be made dividing where one works and lives. Most respondents felt that zoning codes and a licensing system would offer better solutions despite the time and expense required for administering and enforcing new regulations. Planners admit to a dilemma: Many property owners rely in the rent streams and spending dollars generated by vacationers, but locals want to preserve their neighborhood's residential character. Invariably, residents will threaten to abandon a once-beloved community or resort locale if renting a house on the beach or settling into a neighborhood means an endless stream of nuisances from disruptive vacationers. For communities grappling with such disputes, clear definitions are essential. Set definitions and criteria for terms such as 'short-term renters,' 'vacation property,' and 'resort dwelling' should be established to eliminate confusion and ambiguity, and often are not. Source: APA