HomeMy WebLinkAboutM.A. Thomason -OpposedFrom: M.A. Thomas on <mkaa a210@g mail.com>
S ent: Monday, Augus t 17, 2020 5:52 PM
To : PC publiccomment
S u b ject: [BULK] Ai rBNB
Imp o rt an ce: Low
I missed the deadline to submit comments, which couldn’t be helped. However, I feel it’s important to voice my
opinion about the pending vote by City Council on Resolution N o. PC 21-20.
There are so many problems with the proposed change that it’s hard to figure out where to start. However, the
most glaring issue is that the focus of the new rules are misplaced and completely avoid the real issue facing
Orange based on the presuppositions listed on page 1 (Attachment 1-A). In short, AirBN B and/or “short term
rentals” (STRs) are not the problems that demand regulation based on the issues defined in the purpose
statement of the ordinance (5.94.020) (e.g. disturbances to the residents of the City, including noise, increase in
traffic, parking problems, litter, excessive trash, police response to party complaints and public drug use, and the
coming and going of strangers not known to the neighborhood).
To avoid burying the lead, the actual problem that this Resolution wants to resolve has to do with long term
rentals provided to Chapman students by property investors that purchase single family residence homes in
Orange and rent them out to 8-10 Chapman students each school year.
When 8-10 university aged kids live in a single house together, each with their own group of friends, their own
cars and their own expectations of parties that come with the college experience there will absolutely be
excessive noise, traffic, parking problems, litter, and the increased need for police response to party complaints
and public drug use. Plus, the coming and going of perceived strangers not known to the neighborhood will
naturally increase.
We, as a city, can no longer ignore the problem posed by a shortage of local housing for an increasing student
population at Chapman University. We have to deal with that real issue now, head on, and no longer miss the
point by wasting our time on AirBN B and short term rental regulations due to the petty complaints of a few,
albeit loud, residents who prefer to watch half naked college boys play drinking games in their front yard than see
a polite couple waiting for their Uber ride to a local restaurant or store in downtown O range. Yes, K aren
Shawn, I’m talking about you.
A yes vote for Resolution No. PC 21-20 is to admit your personal inability to do the job that you have been
voted into office to perform. That is, tackle the difficult problems facing the city of Orange, not merely placate
simple minded solutions to more complex problems. The city of O range deserves better than the train wreck
that is Resolution N o. PC 21-20. Get it right City Council.
Most Sincerely,
Mat Thomason
1544 E Palm Ave