Last fall I was contacted by The Enterprise for my input on the Edmonds City Council’s proposed ordinance limiting residential rentals to no less than 30 days (we own two weekly rentals on Sunset). The council had a second meeting in December but chose to refer the matter to the Planning Board, after reducing the minimum rental to seven days.
I have spent a small fortune creating a unique opportunity for renters to enjoy the Edmonds lifestyle. Our renters (mostly retirees) walk to town and spend money. Some have moved here. Our use of our private property as weekly rentals is identical to the use of all homes in the area. This was confirmed by a Washington State Court of Appeals decision last December in another case involving weekly rentals.
The Planning Board held a hearing on Feb. 11, at which time a posse of area residents spoke, having been called to arms by a “neighbor” who is unhappy with me because I had told her to stop sending her unleashed dogs over to my yard to do their business. The speakers at the hearing were not able to come up with one single instance of anything that our renters have done to disturb anyone. In fact, no one on the block was even aware of our weekly rentals until I spoke about it last fall.
My “neighbor,” who purchased her home in 1994 for $348,000, has a 2008 assessed value of nearly $1.5 million. Her senior taxes for 2008 were exactly $728.89. It is the working stiffs like me who are carrying folks like her. My renters are contributing to the Edmonds economy and they disturb no one. If people would begin to use some common sense, perhaps this city would not be on the verge of bankruptcy.
Jim Wilkinson
Edmonds
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