Meeting Public Comments

Susan and Rich Young [Lucky Star Farm]

We are writing in opposition to HF296 regarding the regulation of shortterm rental properties by counties and cities, particularly those under 75,000 in population.My husband and I own and operate a shortterm rental in a renovated milking parlor on our farm in rural Johnson County. Through this experience, we have witnessed firsthand the benefits that shortterm rentals can provide in terms of income, rural and smalltown economic benefit, and a greater awareness and appreciation of all that our great state has to offer, especially to those visiting Iowa for the first time.While it is difficult to pin down an exact number, roughly half of the more than 800 visitors we have hosted over the last three years have been from out of state, including our neighboring states and those as far away as Washington, California, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, and Arizona even Germany and England. Many of these visitors have told us this is their first time visiting Iowa, how much they have come to appreciate Iowa's natural beauty, and how they enjoy being able to see the stars and enjoy the peace and quiet of our Iowa countryside. What's more, many of these firsttime visitors have returned, some multiple times, and have recommended their friends and family to come visit as well. In addition to attracting tourism dollars from out of state, we also host a large number of families from cities throughout Iowa, helping to keep tourism dollars from leaving our state.Expanding the availability of shortterm rentals, especially in our smaller towns and rural communities, can be a catalyst for local economic development and, in turn, local employment. And for travelers attending community events, family reunions, weddings, holidays, and other occasions, local shortterm rentals can provide a more convenient, accommodating, and affordable lodging option than renting one or more hotel rooms in a city or town farther away.While this bill would not affect us directly due to the size of our county, we can confidently state from our experience starting up our shortterm rental that increasing bureaucracy, regulation, permits, and fees will only serve to discourage others from doing so, especially in smaller communities. In addition, the cost for cities and counties to implement and sustain these new requirements would likely far outweigh any fees they may generate. These fees would also pale in comparison to the increased tax revenue, economic activity, and property values these communities could realize by allowing and encouraging growth and innovation to occur.As such, for the betterment of our state and our rural economy, we are opposed to allowing any city or county, especially those under 75,000 in population, to implement conditional use permit, licensing, and other fees and regulations that would discourage or prohibit shortterm rentals.

Jenna Hammerich [Blueyah Blueberry Farm]

I believe it is in everyone's best interest to increase lodging access and to encourage and promote a more diverse range of lodging options for visitors to our area. This supports small businesses!